Western G46 and L46 Series Knife Questions

[fireattack18]

This could take some time. I don't collect knives but I like to learn about them. Google is my friend, and is how I came upon this forum!

I was trying to collect some data on the dates of the military and civilian 46's (sorry for the incorrect terminology).

I assume these are based on the "46" platform? If so, can ya give me years of production for the 46 platform?

Is there a date estimation on the ricasso Western stamp variations from pre-war, WWII, Vietnam and Korea?
i.e.

1. Western

2. Western
Pat't

3. Western
Pat. 1,967,479

Domed pommel vs flat pommel dates etc

I guess I will just start with that!

[zzyzzogeton]

The answer to your questions is long winded, so be patient.

First, terminology. Rather than "platform", which is typically used by civilians with respect to rifle bases, the term for edged weapons is "pattern". Model usually refers to a specific iteration of a pattern. e.g., G46-6, L48A, etc. Exception - British nomenclature uses pattern for both.

There are 3 eras of Western's 46 pattern knifes - pre-WW2, WW2 era and post-WW2.

The pre-WW2 46s were the G46-4, G46-5 and G46-6. All had an aluminum mushroom pommel and stacked leather handles with small variations in spacer patterns. The ricasso stamps for all these were either

WESTERN
BOULDER, COLO.
PAT. NO. 1,967,478

or

WEST-CUT
BOULDER, COLO.
PAT.NO. 1,967,478

Zero mushroom pommel knives were ever produced during or after the war. Some may have gone to war as pre-war private purchase or were donated tot he government in knife donation drives.

The WW2 era 46 pattern knives were the G46-5 (aka Baby Shark), the G46-6 (aka Shark) and the G46-8 (no nickname).

The Shark and Baby Shark variations are the most numerous.
Pommel variations
- bird head pommel in aluminum or brown swirl bakelite.
- flat steel pommel in, well, steel.

Guard variations
- flat steel guard
- brown swirl bakelite
- MAYBE some early ones had brass guards, but it is highly unlikely as brass guards were NOT part of any government contract specifications.

The guard/pommel combinations were
- aluminum pommel with either steel or bakelite guards
- bakelite pommel and steel guard
- bakelite pommel and guard

The ricasso stamp for virtually all of these was

WESTERN
BOULDER, COLO.
PAT. NO. 1,967,478

The only dating breakdown of these is that the bakelite pommels and guards are late war era.

The G46-8 only had one pommel and guard style - flat steel. They were only made during the war from 1943 to 1945.

There were three stamps on the G46s.

The first was

WESTERN

with PAT.NO. 1.967,478 stamped into the pommel. These are the rarest and ASSUMED to be the earliest 1943 run. There is no proof of this, simply my speculation based on 50+ years of looking at Westerns.

The next 2 stamps show up in similar frequency, and as no records exist, any attempt to identify which came first would be an exercise in futility.

WESTERN
BOULDER, COLO.
PAT. NO> 1,967,478

and

WESTERN
PAT'D.

Post-WW2 era

I split this era into 3 sub-periods - "immediate" post-war, final patent and post-patent number.

The immediate post-war sub-era is virtually identical to the final war era knives. Why? Because all the cutlery companies were left holding the bag when the US government canceled all pending contracts when Japan finally surrendered. I think many of the weird pommel/guard combinations of the G46-5 and G46-6 knives came during this period - WW2 stamps and materials, but not exactly matching 1944/1945 knives. These knives were the offerings of late 1945 and 1946 - initial post-war civilian market flooding. Using up what they had, and getting civilian money flowing in to replace the government funding that dominated the war years.

The "final patent number years" were 1946 to 1952.

The 3rd line of the stamps were

PAT. NO. 1.967,478 for 1946, and maybe into early 1947 and had

MADE IN U.S.A. either hand-etched with a vibro-etcher or stamped into the pile side ricasso.

Starting around mid-1947, or earlier, the 3rd line morphed into

PAT. MADE IN U.S.A.

This 3rd line remained until 1953/1954ish.

The only 46 pattern knives made during these two sub-eras were G46-5 and G46-6. No G46-8s were made from 1945 to 1955.

These post-war patent reference knives had aluminum bird head pommels and brass guards. The G46-5s had full guards as opposed to the typical half-guards and had lanyard holes in the pommels. Why?? Who knows. but my speculation is that Western was using up leftover canceled G46-6 contract pommels. And full guards?? Again, who knows?

The post-patent reference knife period is 1955 onward. In 1955, the model numbers changed to L46-5, L46-6 and L46-8. The model numbers were stamped into the pile side ricasso and the mark side ricasso stamp was

WESTERN
BOULDER, COLO.
MADE IN U.S.A.

All 3 models had bird head pommels. The L46-5 had a brass half-guard, while the L46-6 and L46-8 had full guards.

The L46-6s disappear from production sometime after 1960, probably around 1963. L46-5s were made up until about 1967. The L46-8s were produced until about 1976, based on stamps and their locations.

The calf hoof pommel W48-6s were first depicted in the 1975 flyer but MAY have come out in 1973. Still looking for a 1973 catalog, if it was ever produced.

Final note - The WW2 era Seabees knife, model L71, officially had a 5 inch blade and flat steel pommel, although I have found them with 5-1/2" and nearly 6" blade with flat pommels. The differentiating feature between a G46-5/G46-6 and a 5" or 6" bladed L71 is that the G46-X ALWAYS has a fullered blade. The L71 is ALWAYS a flat grind blade.

Hope this helps.

[fireattack18]

Awesome, greatly appreciated!!!

I need to digest that for a while and I will probably be back!!

[tongueriver]

Wow, ZZ; a lot of work went into that over a long time. Thanks.

[fireattack18]

The post-patent reference knife period is 1955 onward. In 1955, the model numbers changed to L46-5, L46-6 and L46-8. The model numbers were stamped into the pile side ricasso and the mark side ricasso stamp was

WESTERN
BOULDER, COLO.
MADE IN U.S.A.

All 3 models had bird head pommels. The L46-5 had a brass half-guard,

ZZ, here is an ricasso stamp I don't recall seeing yet.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/225422829590
L46-5

Half Guard

WESTRN
Boulder Colorado
USA

Other side
L46-5

1951 to 1961

I think at least 1955 when the model number was stamped on the ricasso? I think you gave different names for each side of the ricasso but I can't remember.

Is this the post-Patent reference you refer to?

[zzyzzogeton]

I don't know where that 1951 to 1961 line comes from. None of the stamps cover that range. They all changed in 1955.

I forgot about that stamp. That's the 1961 to 1972 stamp. And occasionally on 1973 to 1976 knives. The stamp shows up on pile side ricasso model number knives as well as some of the guard stamped knives where just the model number is on the guard.

[fireattack18]

Ebay is like a library of photographs...which why I frequent the place. I look at photos and check details the best I can.

Here is a W46-8...most of which seem to be special. They appear to have a "00xxx" serial number on the Pile side.
The other side (forget the name again) has the Western USA (model number). I guess should be during the 90's to 2000's?
https://www.ebay.com/itm/156139153247

[zzyzzogeton]

They are pre-date code, probably 1973 to 1976 and most likely made to order for some hunting club that was giving them away/auctioning/etc.

Had they been 1977 or later, they would have had a date code in the stamp. Had they been made before 1973, BOULDER, COLO. would have been included in the stamp.

Nice examples of of the post-1955 L46-8s but not worth what the seller is asking for them. Especially with no sheaths.