western knives - The Firearms Forum

john riley · 01-05-2007, 01:23 PM

recently purchased a western small game knife. It looks pretty nice, it's got a high carbon ss 2 3/4 inch fixed blade w/fulltang and a leather wrapped handle. It's got a leather sheath (but it's less than ideal) It looks like it'be adequate for small game, and the blade appears thin enough to perhaps even fillet a fish if your carefull thought it might be a good general purpose woods walking knife (addition to my everpresent leatherman wave of course) any thoughts on this knife or the quality of western knives in general, was also thing about the ag russel woodswalker for the same purpose as well. Thanks

Pistolenschutze · 01-05-2007, 04:18 PM

Western is generally considered by knife afficinados as a "good" knife maker, John. In other words, they don't rank up there with Benchmade Cold Steel, or the custom makers by any means, but they build a reliable, useful knife for the money invested. The steel used is most often 440HC or 420 (which is often used by Buck, I might add), both of which are decent blade steels in terms of durability, edge holding, and ease of sharpening. More expensive knives, by comparison, are more likely to use ATS 34, CPM 440V, or more recently, AG-10.

armedandsafe · 01-07-2007, 04:50 PM

I carried Western humpbacks from 1947 until I got my Randall in 1963. Loved them and found them strong enough to withstand my heavy use and they stayed sharp enough to gut and skinn a BIG muely. Then only a touch-up in the field was needed to move on to the next one.

Pops

Popgunner · 01-08-2007, 11:04 PM

I have a Western folder that I got when I was about 12. it's a little over 30 years old now & the reason I quit carrying it was that the leather belt pouch that carries it started looking so weathered I was worrying it might break & come off my belt. Mine has an engraving of a big horn sheep on the blade & your post/query prompted me to look at it today. After much use in the field I used it for work- mostly electrical duty skinning wires & such. It's one of my most used knives but it's very very tight & is a dream to sharpen.

For the price I paid I give my Western an A+ rating for value.

Lead Lobber · 01-12-2007, 11:33 PM

What's an Eastern blade then? Serious here; not trying to funny or sarcastic (that usually comes naturally). It seems to me that east or west should be the same when it comes to field blades for hunting or defense, or am I like George Bush?

LL

Pistolenschutze · 01-13-2007, 10:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lead Lobber

What's an Eastern blade then? Serious here; not trying to funny or sarcastic (that usually comes naturally).

In this case the term "Western" refers to a brand name (like Sharade or Buck), not to a geographic region, LL.

armedandsafe · 01-13-2007, 12:25 PM

Most of the Western brand fixed blades were made by Case and the most popular ones were the swept blade skinners. Many of those featured a notched hump on the top of the bladr on which you rested your thumb for fine control. I'd like to have one, again.

Pops

Pistolenschutze · 01-13-2007, 01:12 PM

Hmmm, interesting, Armed. I didn't know it was Case that made those under the Western name. I had a skinner when I was a kid and used it for its intended purpose on numerous occasions. Excellent knife.

nodlenor · 01-11-2008, 07:40 PM

The Western Knife is a very good knife if you buy the older ones that say Boulder Colo. on them. I've seen several of them on E-Bay.

Bill DeShivs · 01-11-2008, 09:32 PM

It is very possible, even likely, that Western made the knives FOR Case.
Bill

01-05-2007, 01:23 PM	#1
john riley V.I.P. Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: NYC Posts: 98	western knives recently purchased a western small game knife. It looks pretty nice, it's got a high carbon ss 2 3/4 inch fixed blade w/fulltang and a leather wrapped handle. It's got a leather sheath (but it's less than ideal) It looks like it'be adequate for small game, and the blade appears thin enough to perhaps even fillet a fish if your carefull thought it might be a good general purpose woods walking knife (addition to my everpresent leatherman wave of course) any thoughts on this knife or the quality of western knives in general, was also thing about the ag russel woodswalker for the same purpose as well. Thanks __________________ "Like a midget at a urinal.....we need to stay on our toes" -->

01-05-2007, 04:18 PM	#2
Pistolenschutze Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Colorado Posts: 13,094	Re: western knives Western is generally considered by knife afficinados as a "good" knife maker, John. In other words, they don't rank up there with Benchmade Cold Steel, or the custom makers by any means, but they build a reliable, useful knife for the money invested. The steel used is most often 440HC or 420 (which is often used by Buck, I might add), both of which are decent blade steels in terms of durability, edge holding, and ease of sharpening. More expensive knives, by comparison, are more likely to use ATS 34, CPM 440V, or more recently, AG-10. __________________ --Pistolenschutze (Pistol Shooter) Last edited by Pistolenschutze; 01-05-2007 at 04:21 PM..

01-07-2007, 04:50 PM	#3
armedandsafe Former Guest Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Moses Lake, WA Posts: 10,344	Re: western knives I carried Western humpbacks from 1947 until I got my Randall in 1963. Loved them and found them strong enough to withstand my heavy use and they stayed sharp enough to gut and skinn a BIG muely. Then only a touch-up in the field was needed to move on to the next one. Pops

01-08-2007, 11:04 PM	#4
Popgunner Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Contributor Posts: 1,764	Re: western knives I have a Western folder that I got when I was about 12. it's a little over 30 years old now & the reason I quit carrying it was that the leather belt pouch that carries it started looking so weathered I was worrying it might break & come off my belt. Mine has an engraving of a big horn sheep on the blade & your post/query prompted me to look at it today. After much use in the field I used it for work- mostly electrical duty skinning wires & such. It's one of my most used knives but it's very very tight & is a dream to sharpen. For the price I paid I give my Western an A+ rating for value.

01-12-2007, 11:33 PM	#5
Lead Lobber Former Guest Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Central California coastal area Posts: 965	Re: western knives What's an Eastern blade then? Serious here; not trying to funny or sarcastic (that usually comes naturally). It seems to me that east or west should be the same when it comes to field blades for hunting or defense, or am I like George Bush? LL

01-13-2007, 12:25 PM	#7
armedandsafe Former Guest Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Moses Lake, WA Posts: 10,344	Re: western knives Most of the Western brand fixed blades were made by Case and the most popular ones were the swept blade skinners. Many of those featured a notched hump on the top of the bladr on which you rested your thumb for fine control. I'd like to have one, again. Pops

01-13-2007, 01:12 PM	#8
Pistolenschutze Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Colorado Posts: 13,094	Re: western knives Hmmm, interesting, Armed. I didn't know it was Case that made those under the Western name. I had a skinner when I was a kid and used it for its intended purpose on numerous occasions. Excellent knife. __________________ --Pistolenschutze (Pistol Shooter)

01-11-2008, 07:40 PM	#9
nodlenor Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Missouri Posts: 4	Re: western knives The Western Knife is a very good knife if you buy the older ones that say Boulder Colo. on them. I've seen several of them on E-Bay.

01-11-2008, 09:32 PM	#10
Bill DeShivs Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Contributor Posts: 1,470	Re: western knives It is very possible, even likely, that Western made the knives FOR Case. Bill __________________ Bill DeShivs www.billdeshivs.com