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c.1977 Western Bowie W49

1977 was the first year that Western knives started using the alphabet, starting with the letter "A", to date code their knives. It was also the last year they were made in Boulder, CO. - They moved to Longmont, CO. in 1978 and continued the alphabet dating code for another 15 years until they were sold at auction to Camillus in 1991. The letters A through O can be seen on their knives depending upon the year of manufacture during the years '77 to '91.

My knife has an abbreviated guard that was done by a previous owner and is currently semi-Bagwellized.

For further info Google: "Bill Bagwell" or "Bagwell Bowie" Re: SOF magazine article c.1987 April issue

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Tags: Bagwell-Bowie, Bowie, Vintage, Western-Cutlery-W49
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Comment by Michael Squier on June 28, 2015 at 8:36: Cool knife, and I just googled the Bagwell mods. Now me and my grinder want a western 49 Bowie, lol

Comment by David L. Packham on June 28, 2015 at 2:10

Comment by Ron Cooper on November 8, 2013 at 1:31: Indian, I'm glad that's useful for you. As you can determine from that chart; yours having an "E" on it, would have been made in Longmont, Colorado in 1981. That would have been 3 years prior to Coleman merging with Western in 1984. In 1991 Camillus bought Western at auction and production of their knives then moved to New York where they were made until Camillus closed its' doors in 2007.

I can't recall if I have posted these links before? But if anyone's interested here are some links for some .pdf files of old Western catalogs. They're actually pretty interesting. See links below...

http://www.collectors-of-camillus.us/Western/1975-Western-Catalogs.pdf

http://www.collectors-of-camillus.us/Western/1980-Western-Catalogs.pdf

http://www.collectors-of-camillus.us/Western/1982abt-Westerns.pdf

http://www.collectors-of-camillus.us/Western/1986-Western-Catalogs.pdf

http://www.collectors-of-camillus.us/Western/1993-Westerns.pdf

Enjoy!

Comment by Indian on November 7, 2013 at 18:49: Right on Ron this is great....the bowie I have is marked Western USA W49 E the sheath is marked WESTERN

Comment by Ron Cooper on November 7, 2013 at 18:30: Guys, I know this has been posted before. But it's always nice to refresh our memories from time to time...

Dating Stamps for Western Cutlery...

And, Phil! That's a real sweet W49 Bowie you've got there!

Comment by Phil Ladwig on November 7, 2013 at 18:05: This is a 1990 production. Last year Colemen made the westerns. Tang stamp is still Western. Sheath is Coleman/Western.

Comment by Phil Ladwig on November 7, 2013 at 1:21: Very Nice. I believe Coleman took over Western in 1984. The sheaths were marked Coleman/Western during that time.