Western K6 and K5 sheath knives

[timsclips]

A little while ago I picked up a West-Cut marked sheath knife with K6 marked on the tang, seemed to be a dead ringer for what is commonly called a model 66. I also saw an auction for a K5 model on ebay this past weekend. Does anyone know what time period these knives were marked with these model numbers?

I ask on the Camillus forum as Western was bought out by Camillus.
I love the old carbon steel sheath knives, the delrin handled Camillus marked knives were not quite as nice in my opinion.

 

[thawk]

A little while ago I picked up a West-Cut marked sheath knife with K6 marked on the tang, seemed to be a dead ringer for what is commonly called a model 66. I also saw an auction for a K5 model on ebay this past weekend. Does anyone know what time period these knives were marked with these model numbers?

I ask on the Camillus forum as Western was bought out by Camillus.
I love the old carbon steel sheath knives, the delrin handled Camillus marked knives were not quite as nice in my opinion.

Timsclips:
I'll try to look them up and post what I find out tomorrow.
Thawk

 

[thawk]

Western Cutlery introduced the West-Cut line in the mid 30's to offer an economical choice in knives.

I found these in the 1958 Catalog, and do not know how much earlier or later they were offered.

I did not see a K6, bit did see some earlier 66 sheath knives.

 

[timsclips]

Safe to assume post war to about 1960?

 

[thawk]

Safe to assume post war to about 1960?

Just not sure. The book has samplings of catalogs, but not all of them. It is amazing how many different hunting knives or "outing knives" Western States made in many handle materials. From what I see today, not too many of the older ones survived in new condition. People bought them and used them. The 63 model was the first one they made in 1928.

 

[Trent Rock]

Western Cutlery introduced the West-Cut line in the mid 30's to offer an economical choice in knives.

I found these in the 1958 Catalog, and do not know how much earlier or later they were offered.

I did not see a K6, bit did see some earlier 66 sheath knives.

'

Thanks for sharing Hawk!!!
Good info!!
I like the ONE stripe in the center of the handles on West-Cut

I kind of want a 645 now
Looks like a Sportsmen....

 

[HARDBALL]

Hi all,

I LOVE "Flea Markets!" Today (Sunday June 1, 2014) I found an awesome WEST-CUT (Boulder CO) knife for two dollars! Whoa! It has a four inch Carbon Blade and a unique Bakelite handle. It looks like the knife in this link : http://i.ebayimg.com/00/s/NzY4WDEwMjQ=/z/ihAAAOxyYSdTDsrC/$_57.JPG
The handle shape is VERY comfortable. Once sharpened, I think this will be a neat knife for many uses.

HARDBALL

 

[zzyzzogeton]

The K6 is "probably" really a K5 with a slightly deformed ricasso stamp.

I have never seen a reference to a K6 other than a couple of fleabay auctions. I have one of those because at the time I did not have a "K6" so I bought it. When it came in, I compared it to the K5 and it was a match. Under a magnifying glass it looks like you could call it either a bad 5 or a bad 6.

This was before I acquired a copy of Mr. Platts book to find out that the 1950s West-Cut K series was K1, K2, K3, and K5, the 645 and the K510, as shown in the picture above. Note: the K510 combo is the K5 knife matched with the K10 hatchet in a combo sheath. I have never seen a hatchet marked K10, either.

I would assume from the picture that the K10 would basically be an L10 with the brass spacer in the middle of the handle. At least, that's what I keep looking for.

Actually, none of the Western hatchets I have seen had either the 10 or 14 model numbers on them, except for the R10 Camillus version (see below).

Western made 2 hatchets - the 10 and the 14. The 10 is about 10.75" and the 14 is about 12.5" long.

Western under Coleman made the L10 and W10.

The advertising for the Western versions refers to them as L10, W10, F10 and F14.

The 14, only produce as the Black Beauty version (aluminum and black phenollic plastic spacers) has an I-beam style haft, similar to the Bridgeport BSA hand axes.


There was also an R10 version made by Camillus. It is marked R10. It came black-coated (probably carbon steel} and shiny, stainless versions.

 

[tongueriver]

Hi all,

I LOVE "Flea Markets!" Today (Sunday June 1, 2014) I found an awesome WEST-CUT (Boulder CO) knife for two dollars! Whoa! It has a four inch Carbon Blade and a unique Bakelite handle. It looks like the knife in this link : http://i.ebayimg.com/00/s/NzY4WDEwMjQ=/z/ihAAAOxyYSdTDsrC/$_57.JPG
The handle shape is VERY comfortable. Once sharpened, I think this will be a neat knife for many uses.

HARDBALL

Those knives are 1930s vintage. Although NEARLY all Westcut knives are lower-price-point items, some of the first ones were prime grade. I have one with genuine stag handles and fancy metal spacers, from the 1930s, before they changed the marketing philosophy of that line, apparently.

 

[Steven Z.]

Western Cutlery introduced the West-Cut line in the mid 30's to offer an economical choice in knives.

I found these in the 1958 Catalog, and do not know how much earlier or later they were offered.

I did not see a K6, bit did see some earlier 66 sheath knives.

I myself just acquired a West Cut knife that to me is clearly stamped K-6. Id just to find out more about the knife.