X244 with Bison shield

[98src]

I think this is an X244 based on pictures and description in the 1931 Western catalog. No mention made of the bison inlay which I have seen on large UTICA folders. Anyone have any ideas regarding the bison inlay/shield? Some type of club?

[OLDE CUTLER]

Is that an actual knife? Picture looks very distorted.

[zzyzzogeton]

Assuming the blade is about 4-1/2 inches long, it would be an X244, where the handle material is composition pearl (celluloid) over a layer of black "underlayment", also a celluloid material. The 244 had solid composition pearl handles, with no underlayment. You can see the black layer under the pearl.

These SHOULD have a stamp on both pile and mark side ricassos. WESTERN over BOULDER, COLO. or WEST-CUT over BOULDER, COLO. on one side and PAT. APP'L'D FOR, or PAT. PEND., or PATENTED, or PAT. xxxxxxxxx

The bison head shield is relatively rare. Counting this one, I have now seen 5. Usually the bison head shows up as a blade etch nestled between an upper arch of WESTERN STATES and a lower arch of SHARP CUTLERY. Per the catalog pages, exclusively on folders, although I have encountered remnants of the blade etch on couple of 1931 fixed blades. The etch is really shallow and easily worn on of knives that see much use.

Please post a new overall photo that is not distorted. The distortion on the current one probably came about by someone resizing the picture from the side only rather than at a corner.

[98src]

See if this pic is any better. It is the X244 with the black under the imitation pearl