TALLYHO Posted November 28, 2016 Share #1 Posted November 28, 2016 Ive seen a lot of theater knives, but i never saw one made from the Western BX-54 (V-44), until now. I was lucky enough to get my hands on this beauty. Very well constructed and a darn nice sheath to boot! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gardner11 Posted November 28, 2016 Share #2 Posted November 28, 2016 That is a very nice knife , a great find . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
siclfde Posted November 28, 2016 Share #3 Posted November 28, 2016 Me jealous! Nice pick. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sactroop Posted November 28, 2016 Share #4 Posted November 28, 2016 Yes, really like it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TALLYHO Posted November 28, 2016 Author Share #5 Posted November 28, 2016 Thanks! The handle is of stacked leather, and the obvious aluminum and brass. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thorin6 Posted November 29, 2016 Share #6 Posted November 29, 2016 A Western V-44 is on my desired list, and I would take that one in a heartbeat to fill the slot. Great knife and sheath; especially the sheath. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
doyler Posted November 29, 2016 Share #7 Posted November 29, 2016 Great looking Western Nice it has its original scabbard as well Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
robinb Posted December 19, 2016 Share #8 Posted December 19, 2016 I just found one today. The scabbard is covered with folk art; naked girl, palm tree. Named to John Huffacker. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TALLYHO Posted December 20, 2016 Author Share #9 Posted December 20, 2016 Congrats on the find! Now, thats only the second BX-54 theater knife I ever have seen. Interesting to note the "S" guard on your knife as well as on one I got a few years back (bottom in photo). Although I can`t be certain when it was done to mine. In 1964 Western introduced the Bowie, later designated the model W49 with a "S" guard. Interesting. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
robinb Posted December 20, 2016 Share #10 Posted December 20, 2016 Mine popped up on craigslist a few days ago. But seeing your Western is what prompted me to buy mine. Here's a close up of the art work on the scabbard. It reads: Down Where the Trade Winds Blow". Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sactroop Posted December 20, 2016 Share #11 Posted December 20, 2016 The guards do seem different thou from the later knife. I've found it curious why Western deviated from their practice of stamping the pile side of the blade with the stock number of the knife with this model. Something they had been doing for ten years and more with their fixed blade knives. I also don't remember them stamping the nick-name of the knife on any other models, some of which were commonly known by said nick-name. In one sense the knife was always a W49 as regards the price sheets and markings on the side of the box they came in. Still with three versions of the knife marked BOWIE while the others are marked W49 it could be considered a difference with little distinction. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TALLYHO Posted December 20, 2016 Author Share #12 Posted December 20, 2016 Let us not forget the illusive stainless steel variants of which there are three. One blade marked the other two guard marked. The earliest blade marked as well as one of the two guard marked variants have the Bowie designation, while the third carries the W49 model number. But to your point a difference with little distinction. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TALLYHO Posted December 20, 2016 Author Share #13 Posted December 20, 2016 Robinb, I always forget to check in on Craigs list. The folk art you would think would indicated a Pacific theater knife. I like the color in the handle. So many theater knives use red its nice to see something different. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sactroop Posted December 20, 2016 Share #14 Posted December 20, 2016 Here's the only image I have for the 3rd marking regarding the 649, sorry it isn't any better. I've always wondered about the order of the different markings. Do you have anymore insight towards that? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mdonzi Posted December 21, 2016 Share #15 Posted December 21, 2016 sweet Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TALLYHO Posted December 22, 2016 Author Share #16 Posted December 22, 2016 Here is a chart that I found on line. It primarily deals with the W49 variants from 1964 to 1977. It was incomplete in that it was missing a few variants. I filled in the blanks and ran it by a few Western enthusiasts and the concur with my order of variants. If anyone has more info or opinions please chime in. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TALLYHO Posted December 22, 2016 Author Share #17 Posted December 22, 2016 We know that the first edition W49 (1964) had BOWIE on one side and WESTERN Boulder, Colo on the other. The second edition or variant incorporated both on one side. Then the third the markings migrated to the guard and started with BOWIE again. When the stainless steel version was introduced the three variants closely followed suit in the markings. I hope I explained it clearly. It can be confusing especially if your trying to digest it for the first time. Sactroop you are correct on the guard marked third edition stainless steel. It bears the model # S649 and not W49 as I stated. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sactroop Posted December 22, 2016 Share #18 Posted December 22, 2016 When it comes to the order of appearance of the variants listed for the W49 and 647, I believe that's the way they came about. As far as the dates go I'd like to hear more regarding the reasons used for them at least up to variant #7 and the practice of date coding the knives. I have some difference of opinion in the likely dates on some of the earlier variants, but I think it mostly reflects the difficulty in trying to nail them down in the absence of detailed documentation. I have to disagree with the description of variant #8. I'm convinced it's a Camillus made knife post 1991. All other Longmont Colorado made W49's are date coded. Also how likely can it be that not only would Longmont change the marking used on that blade, but absolutely match the same stamping that Camillus used for the W49 for their 15 year production of the knife? As far as the other commemorative/limited production knives, I don't consider myself well enough informed on them. I've wondered if the introduction of the 649 and the early practice of marking it "BOWIE' might have lead to some push back about having two knives in the market place with the same name. Certainly changing the identifier to the stock number was consistent with Western's long standing practice with the other fixed blade knives they made. But that's just speculation. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ronnie Posted December 23, 2016 Share #19 Posted December 23, 2016 Tallyho that is a beauty! Fantastic pick up. Ronnie Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TALLYHO Posted December 23, 2016 Author Share #20 Posted December 23, 2016 Thanks Ronnie, got lucky that one. Just about all my finds are through ebay. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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