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Western W49 Bowie - My First


Nkomo
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I picked up this Western W49 bowie recently. According to my research the knife was produced some time between 1968 and 1973. According to the article I linked below, it is a Vietnam War Era Version 6.

 

The scabbard is a heavily modified US marked machete sheath with a 1986 date,

 

I was rold that this was carried by a Ranger during Operation Just Cause in 1989.

 

Looking at the knife and scabbard, I think this was most likely carried in an ALICE pack pocket as opposed to being carried on a belt.

 

Link: https://www.allaboutpocketknives.com/knife_forum/viewtopic.php?t=54880

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I'm certain from my personal research that your knife existed by 1972 at the latest. Unfortunately it's easier to determine a time when a model existed by than it often is to determine the date they started manufacturing it. There are no discovered records when it comes to how many W49's were produced, let alone the dates when they changed blade markings or other changes in manufacturing.

I've had several discussions with the author of the article you linked to above over the years, and suffice it to say we don't always agree on everything.

IMHO, your knife is an example of the first version of the W49 with the laminated Rosewood handle and the larger cutlery rivets used to attach it.

There is one in-country picture which shows what appears to be one of these knives in the hand of a G.I. posing with two of his friends. From what I've been able to research it appears unlikely at this point that the picture would have been taken much after early 1970. Still the image is only compelling and there are a lot of holes regarding if the knife is exactly what it would appear to be and if the time frame is really solid.

IMHO, your knife is most likely an example of the last version of the W49 that could reliably be associated with Vietnam use. Can't completely rule out the next version where the (WESTERN/BOULDER, COLO. U.S.A.) was replaced with (WESTERN/U.S.A.) on the guard.

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  • 4 years later...

I can’t seem to stay away from the Western W49, I had 6 at one point, and am now down to just 2 including the one in attached pic. The other has only “Bowie” marked on it. Im assuming these were possibly produced between ‘64-‘66?

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My best guess for the knife in the picture would be 65-66 for the start date and at least into 67 for that knife with the WESTERN/BOWIE/USA markings.

The knife with BOWIE written on the reverse side of the blade would be from 64 and probably at least into 65, but maybe a little later.

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