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Western knife/Hatchet Combo, age and other.
Posted: Wed Dec 25, 2024 9:58 pm
by Baney+1
Hello all,
I am new here and am trying to be able to learn more about Westmark/Western knives. I've always loved them and have quite a few. I figure it's time I learn more.
1. Where is the best information about Westmark/Western?
2.I have recently purchased a nice Western Knife combo at auction and got a good deal on it. Just wondering more about the age of this item?
3. Sorry all please bear with me, I am not the best at technology.
Thanks for any help I can get!
Re: Western knife/Hatchet Combo, age and other.
Posted: Wed Dec 25, 2024 10:55 pm
by New_Windsor_NY
Re: Western knife/Hatchet Combo, age and other.
Posted: Thu Dec 26, 2024 3:52 pm
by 98src
That version is in the 1936 Western States catalog and was not in the 1931 catalog. There is a later version that used a different locking mechanism. I have both versions.
Re: Western knife/Hatchet Combo, age and other.
Posted: Fri Dec 27, 2024 8:13 am
by zzyzzogeton
It is the post-WW2 version as depicted in the 1950 catalog reprint pages of TKMWWW, model number 23910.
2 for celluloid, 39 for the pattern 39 knife blade and 10 for the light weight hatchet pattern.
We know it is a post-WW2 offering from the the stamp - it has "PAT'D. MADE IN U.S.A." as the third line.
If a Western knife has any reference to "U.S.A." in the stamp, it was made after WW2 after any WW2 contract cancellation knives were made. Late 1945/1946 knives were primarily made with cancelled contract leftovers, so they have WW2 era stamps.
Some of these "post-war wartime bladed" knives have "MADE IN USA" hand etched on the pile side ricasso, indicating they were made after the decision to include a USA reference in the stamps was made but before new blades started being made, most likely late 1946 to early 1947.
The locking mechanism on the 1936/1941 versions was on the spine. The 1950 version had the locking mechanism on the edge side of the handle.
It could have been made as early as 1949 IF they started producing them before the 1950 catalog was printed, although I have never seen an ad dated 1948 or 1949 for the 3910 combo. We have no information of when runs were made for any models.
The latest it could have been made is 1953. No reference to the bifurcated tang patent on knives made after 1953.