Greg Robinson Posted January 21, 2007 #1 Posted January 21, 2007 In my opinion, WESTERN made some of the finest fighting knives of WW2. Although they never had any major government contracts they sold thousands of knives through private and unit purchases. One of the best was the L77. There is speculation that this knife was designed as an improvement to what is now known as the L76 in order to secure a contract with the Marine Corps. In the early days of the Marine Raiders many an L77 was purchased and carried by them while Stateside training. Of course, we all know that the Marines wound up going with the CAMILLUS Raider stiletto. Here's a variation of the L77 used in WW2. It has the wartime plastic pommel and guard, is bright blade, and is in the long style scabbard with military cartridge belt hooks. I've seen these before with USMC provenance so I know they purchased some of these.
Greg Robinson Posted January 21, 2007 Author #2 Posted January 21, 2007 THE BLUE BLADE L77 Made during WW2 it had the typical high grade polished blue finish as seen on all WESTERN knives of the period. It's almost impossible to show the finish on a photograph due to the spectacular glossy finish.
Greg Robinson Posted January 21, 2007 Author #3 Posted January 21, 2007 BRIGHT BLADE L77 Same knife as the blued version but the blade is left bright and highly polished. This example has the wartime plastic pommel but retains the standard steel guard.
gunbarrel Posted January 21, 2007 #4 Posted January 21, 2007 Beautiful knives, Greg. I particularly admire the blue blade Westerns, but I must say that the polished blade you show is stunning. Here is a photo of my one and only Western, a common shark knife that belonged to a naval aviator.
Greg Robinson Posted January 21, 2007 Author #5 Posted January 21, 2007 Beautiful knives, Greg. I particularly admire the blue blade Westerns, but I must say that the polished blade you show is stunning. Here is a photo of my one and only Western, a common shark knife that belonged to a naval aviator. I like it. And, yep, a lot of WW2 "Shark" knives were carried by Naval aviators. Here's mine. I bought it off ebay from the Naval aviators brother. By the time he got qualified to fly the F4U Corsair it was late 1944 or early '45 and he never left the States so missed seeing any combat. But his brother still admired him. This is what he had say about his brother. The aviator had recently passed away when I got the knife. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- "Hi His name was George Geras,Lieutenant Junior Grade. Was in navy from 1941 before Pearl Harbour left navy 1946.He came up from the ranks was Aviation Machinist 1st class. How many pilots could maintain their own planes not many. Jim" ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Greg Robinson Posted January 21, 2007 Author #6 Posted January 21, 2007 Here's what M H COLE called the "type 2" Shark. Same knife with flat pommel.
gunbarrel Posted January 22, 2007 #8 Posted January 22, 2007 Western W31. Be still my heart...a Parachutist! What a thrill...thanks!! GB
camopara Posted January 22, 2007 #9 Posted January 22, 2007 You noticed! I've only seen 3 to include mine. They are a tough one!
robinb Posted January 22, 2007 #11 Posted January 22, 2007 What's fun with collecting Western's is that the variations seem to go on and on. Bright or blued blades. Aluminum or plastic pommels. Lanyard holes or not. Short, long, or half guards made from either steel of brass. And then there are variations in the blade markings. In my photo of the different Shark knives, the one on the for right is not marked at all, and the scabbard is one piece folded leather.
Greg Robinson Posted January 22, 2007 Author #14 Posted January 22, 2007 You noticed!I've only seen 3 to include mine. They are a tough one! No...not tough.....IMPOSSIBLE to find...and very expensive. Greg
dustin Posted January 22, 2007 #16 Posted January 22, 2007 the western seemed to be very common item issued to naval pilots and aircrew members.I have seen lots of photos of them worn by naval aviators but unfortunately have not been keeping a photo reference of them.Here is a pic of a naval aviator wearing the flat pommel western.
Greg Robinson Posted January 30, 2007 Author #17 Posted January 30, 2007 WESTERN cataloged this as their G46-8 and I've heard it called the "8" fighter". Developed during WW2 Western Cutlery hoped to sell it to the Marine Corps to fill their need for a fighting utility knife. But it was too expensive. Beautifully made and finished piece with a bluing comparable to that seen on pre war guns. Greg
camopara Posted September 9, 2007 #19 Posted September 9, 2007 Here's a pic that I just got that shows the W31 in use! There is a couple of cool things about the photo but I won't point those out for now....
camopara Posted September 9, 2007 #20 Posted September 9, 2007 see if I can show it a little closer.....
gunbarrel Posted September 9, 2007 #21 Posted September 9, 2007 Camopara, That is a GREAT action shot of the W31! I don't believe I have ever seen another one. Often I have wondered about that tooled leather sheath, but there it is! Speaking of W31's, does anyone know who made this replica? I can't believe they paid that kind of money for it, but, whatever! http://cgi.ebay.com/WW2-USMC-Paramarine-W3...1QQcmdZViewItem
camopara Posted September 10, 2007 #22 Posted September 10, 2007 GB, Yes that is a lot of money for a reproduction, but just a fraction of what a original runs! There are a couple more photos of the W31 in use in the book Paramarine! by Mason. I've never owned one (photo) until now, and glad that I was able to find one...
AK101 Posted February 8, 2010 #23 Posted February 8, 2010 Camopara, That is a GREAT action shot of the W31! :thumbsup: I don't believe I have ever seen another one. Often I have wondered about that tooled leather sheath, but there it is! Speaking of W31's, does anyone know who made this replica? I can't believe they paid that kind of money for it, but, whatever! http://cgi.ebay.com/WW2-USMC-Paramarine-W3...1QQcmdZViewItem Anyone save the pics? Would love to see this tooled leather sheath THANKS
Bob Hudson Posted March 1, 2011 #24 Posted March 1, 2011 Here's a Western Shark knife I found last week at the downsizing sale of a woman whose father was a Naval enlisted - later commissioned - pilot in WWII. The sheath and grip show their age but the blade looks like it has spend the last 65+ years in the sheath with great bluing and original edge.
Gilles Posted September 11, 2015 #25 Posted September 11, 2015 Hi, I find this knife today Best regard from France Gilles
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