Western Knives Questions

[capt14k]

This is the last group I had questions about. They are similar Western Knives. I assume they are wartime due to the PAT #. Would these be considered little shark and big shark or side carry? I've seen people refer to the birds beak pommel as shark and the flat pommel as shark. Sorry for all the questions but there is a lot of conflicting info out there.

 

The larger sheath has the double stitching and I assume it's original. The smaller sheath the snap is marked Western but I assume it is for a later commercial knife. Is that the case?

 

 

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[sactroop]

The patient number doesn't totally disappear from the Western fixed blade knives until about 1953-54. The knives are basically L46-5, and L46-6. Although I think at the time Western was still using G46 for the stock number during the War. Baby Shark, and Shark are the names that Western would use for them.

[Charlie Flick]

Capt14K:

 

The Western Knives can indeed be confusing. I agree with Sactroop's comments about the patent date markings and the Model Numbers.

 

I would say that both of your blades and sheaths are civilian. Wartime Shark Knives generally had steel or bakelite guards while yours are brass. That is not a hard and fast rule but if we go with the probabilities that is what I would conclude.

 

The sheath with the oak leaf design, while double-stitched, is also civilian. The military had no desire or use for fancy, extra cost touches like that. I think your assessment that the smaller sheath is a post-war sheath is also correct. I don't think Western began using that style of Western marked snap until long after the war.

 

So, these are nice examples of Western knives but in my view they are civilian, not WW2 USGI.

 

Regards,

Charlie

[capt14k]

Back to the drawing board. I'll get it right eventually.

 

Would these rules apply to Western Knives?

 

Just PAT'D no number early war.

 

PAT with number could be wartime, but not with brass cross guard.

 

If Model Number is on Blade not Wartime.

 

Knives in this group are all wartime? (Based on other thread Camillus is and I am pretty sure the other 2 are as well).

 

Thank You guys for the info. I thought learning Finn Bayonets and Puukkos was a challenge. American is a whole other level.

 

 

[Charlie Flick]

Would these rules apply to Western Knives? Just PAT'D no number early war. PAT with number could be wartime, but not with brass cross guard. If Model Number is on Blade not Wartime. Knives in this group are all wartime?

 

Capt:

 

Yes to all.

 

Regards,

Charlie

[capt14k]

 

Capt:

 

Yes to all.

 

Regards,

Charlie

Thank You.

 

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[byf41]

This Is an Interesting subject . Western had so much variation In theyre production It Is difficult to put a time line on them IMO . For Instance I would not totally discount an oakleaf sheath as NOT being WWII era . The W31 was definatly Issued with an oakleaf sheath . The brass guard Is still a question mark In my mind . Of course this Is JMO .