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Another Questionable Western States
Posted: Tue Oct 18, 2022 1:09 pm
by JohnR
So I own this knife already and bought it because I like the pattern even though I had some questions. The main thing I noticed is the main has a Western States Boulder straight line tang stamp I have not seen before or can find in the tang stamp charts, the pen has the normal arched stamp.
Blades have a very course finish, the rust is on top of finish so not done recent, pins appear to be hammered and correct for the time. Knife has had some cleaning done to it. It is not a pattern that I can find any other examples from Western States but I don't have access to old catalogs, it is 3 5/8" and a little beefy.
Feel free to pick it apart, I won't be offended, thank you.
Re: Another Questionable Western States
Posted: Tue Oct 18, 2022 1:26 pm
by peanut740
John,the master appears cold stamped.Blade looks like it never went thru final grinding at the factory.I've seen many unfinished blades sell on Ebay over the years.I don't know anything about W.S.fixed blades,but that could be a fixed blade stamp.
Re: Another Questionable Western States
Posted: Tue Oct 18, 2022 1:40 pm
by btrwtr
I agree with Roger. Doesn't look like a Western brand knife to me. Looks like a Camillus frame cold stamped blades. Not unlike the many fake knives sold by eBay seller myrtlefaye.
Re: Another Questionable Western States
Posted: Wed Oct 19, 2022 1:18 am
by Reverand
I think that the tang looks shaved down on the front side. I do not know enough about the Western States patterns to spot more than that about it.
Still, it is a beautiful knife, and looks old enough to be a classic knife in it's own right. I would keep it if it were mine, but have it labeled in some way for posterity's sake.
Re: Another Questionable Western States
Posted: Wed Oct 19, 2022 2:16 am
by zzyzzogeton
The good news is that it is a model 16234 Swelgrip pattern knife from the 1921 and 1925 catalogs. Dropped from the 1936 and later catalogs. The 16234-1/2 had a clip blade for the main blade.
The bad news is someone tried to fake the stamp on the main blade.
These knives had the old "tic-tac-toe" style etch on the main blade and the arched Western States stamped in the secondary blade. I have never seen a stamp on the main blade of these knives that I have examined. Having not examined every model of 1921/1926 folders, I can't absolutely state that no tic-tac-toe etched main blade had a stamp, but I wouldn't bet money that they did.
Right off the top of my head, I do not remember ever seeing that stamp, whether on fixed blades or folders. The stamp looks cold stamped and the font seems "off".
Re: Another Questionable Western States
Posted: Wed Oct 19, 2022 3:13 am
by btrwtr
zzyzzogeton wrote: ↑Wed Oct 19, 2022 2:16 am
The good news is that it is a model 16234 Swelgrip pattern knife from the 1921 and 1925 catalogs. Dropped from the 1936 and later catalogs. The 16234-1/2 had a clip blade for the main blade.
The bad news is someone tried to fake the stamp on the main blade.
These knives had the old "tic-tac-toe" style etch on the main blade and the arched Western States stamped in the secondary blade. I have never seen a stamp on the main blade of these knives that I have examined. Having not examined every model of 1921/1926 folders, I can't absolutely state that no tic-tac-toe etched main blade had a stamp, but I wouldn't bet money that they did.
Right off the top of my head, I do not remember ever seeing that stamp, whether on fixed blades or folders. The stamp looks cold stamped and the font seems "off".
Great information!
Re: Another Questionable Western States
Posted: Sat Oct 22, 2022 11:08 pm
by Miller Bro's
The OP knife is a fake.
Here's the real deal, master blade has the arched Tang stamp.
Never been cleaned or buffed up
Re: Another Questionable Western States
Posted: Sun Oct 23, 2022 12:34 am
by JohnR
zzyzzogeton wrote: ↑Wed Oct 19, 2022 2:16 am
The good news is that it is a model 16234 Swelgrip pattern knife from the 1921 and 1925 catalogs. Dropped from the 1936 and later catalogs. The 16234-1/2 had a clip blade for the main blade.
The bad news is someone tried to fake the stamp on the main blade.
These knives had the old "tic-tac-toe" style etch on the main blade and the arched Western States stamped in the secondary blade. I have never seen a stamp on the main blade of these knives that I have examined. Having not examined every model of 1921/1926 folders, I can't absolutely state that no tic-tac-toe etched main blade had a stamp, but I wouldn't bet money that they did.
Right off the top of my head, I do not remember ever seeing that stamp, whether on fixed blades or folders. The stamp looks cold stamped and the font seems "off".
Thank you for the detailed explanation much appreciated and thank you all for your input. I was pretty sure the knife was not right and wanted to make sure. I'm still going to hold on to it because I like the pattern and the knife, if Ever sell will make buyer aware of issues.