I am so honored to have this blade in my collection, I will forever tell its story and the story of the brave man who carried it, God bless my friend 🙏
The Western States Cutlery Co. made the Bx54 called the Bushman for the military in WWII. It was the same size and shape as the W49 but had black plastic handles. The Bushman was not produced after the war contract expired, until 1964 when Western introduced it into their line of big knives as the W-49 Bowie with Rosewood handles. In 1977 Western started to put a letter on their knives to identify the year starting with "A" that year. Your knife marked "M" was made in 1989 after the original Platts/Case family sold out to Coleman in 1984. The plant stayed in the same location in Colorado. Coleman-Western was then sold to Camillus in 1991 and the machinery was moved to New York. Camillus-Western produced a number of serialized Crown Stag W49 Bowie knives with the Western brand and some with the Remington brand. To me the W49 remains the king of Bowie knives. Thanks for sharing your beauty.
@@tomritter493 You betcha'. I have an original 1964 (Vietnam veteran's) model, a 1978 "B", and 1990's Crown Stag model Western Bowies. I'm missing one from the Coleman era which I hope to find soon, and of course the original Bushman. Since recently I've seen a Bushman offered for 5 figures I won't be buying one of those. BTW Coleman for a year or two offered the Bowie line of Knives (W43, W45, W47, & W49 with corresponding 3.5", 5.5", 7.5", & 9.5" blades). Haven't found one of those smaller ones yet but would luv to.
Beautiful knife! I remember the Western knives. I found one diving under a fishing dock that was buried in the mud, not much pitting but the leather washers were pretty rotted. I coated the leather with epoxy and to my surprise they absorbed the epoxy and swelled up so it looks like new. Some cleaning of the blade and it was almost like new! My brother and I gave our father a large Western hunting knife. They are great knives! You are lucky to have that knife, and as your said that sheath is much better than the one that came with the original! Thanks for sharing!
@@tomritter493 it's got carbon rust spots because is chrome vanadium 1095 carbon steel. M was made in 1989 chief. It's a date code the letters that start with A in 77. You don't know what you're talking about.
@@tomritter493 m is 1989. Date code started in 77 with A. I even have an M myself. I've owned a K also. You'll find M is the most popular year and plentiful for some reason.
I have a knock-off made in Pakistan that i bought a long long time ago. No idea what steel it is, but it is good. Wife used it as a garden implement for a while. It is apart on the bench waiting for new scales and a polish someday. Thank you for the review and history, Tom. Stay safe and stay cool
Have a WESTERN BOWIE....don't know how old it is. On one side of the BLADE just before the guard it says BOWIE in big letters that are upside down from the writing on the other side...on the other side it says, WESTERN BOULDER COLO.USA there is no W49 or anything else just what I described. Do you know what year it was made? Early 60's??
Awesome Bowie my brother 🙂 yea I think I have told you before, the reason why I wanted my Bowie so bad is because of growing up watching the 1954-1955 Davy Crockett tv shows lol I wanted mine unique but at the same time, I wanted mine top quality, I spent almost $500.00 on it but it was hand forged! 🙂 I really love the brass guard, and I favored the old late 1880's design with the eagle beak pommel so I asked for it to be brass as well. I love Bowies and I love history lol awesome video brother 🙂 There is loads of history about the Bowie, some hard facts can be found and some can't really be proven but claimed to be fact lol nevertheless they are awesome!
I am so honored to have this blade in my collection, I will forever tell its story and the story of the brave man who carried it, God bless my friend 🙏
Thank my friend God bless
Piece of art work.
@@peteblackburn2839 the sheath yes it is i love it
Good looking knife Tom.
Thanks for sharing and God bless.
Thanks robert
The Western States Cutlery Co. made the Bx54 called the Bushman for the military in WWII. It was the same size and shape as the W49 but had black plastic handles. The Bushman was not produced after the war contract expired, until 1964 when Western introduced it into their line of big knives as the W-49 Bowie with Rosewood handles. In 1977 Western started to put a letter on their knives to identify the year starting with "A" that year. Your knife marked "M" was made in 1989 after the original Platts/Case family sold out to Coleman in 1984. The plant stayed in the same location in Colorado. Coleman-Western was then sold to Camillus in 1991 and the machinery was moved to New York. Camillus-Western produced a number of serialized Crown Stag W49 Bowie knives with the Western brand and some with the Remington brand. To me the W49 remains the king of Bowie knives. Thanks for sharing your beauty.
Thanks you for the history lesson welcome to the family
@@tomritter493 You betcha'. I have an original 1964 (Vietnam veteran's) model, a 1978 "B", and 1990's Crown Stag model Western Bowies. I'm missing one from the Coleman era which I hope to find soon, and of course the original Bushman. Since recently I've seen a Bushman offered for 5 figures I won't be buying one of those.
BTW Coleman for a year or two offered the Bowie line of Knives (W43, W45, W47, & W49 with corresponding 3.5", 5.5", 7.5", & 9.5" blades). Haven't found one of those smaller ones yet but would luv to.
I worked for Western in the Longmont plant...
Beautiful knife! I remember the Western knives. I found one diving under a fishing dock that was buried in the mud, not much pitting but the leather washers were pretty rotted. I coated the leather with epoxy and to my surprise they absorbed the epoxy and swelled up so it looks like new. Some cleaning of the blade and it was almost like new! My brother and I gave our father a large Western hunting knife. They are great knives! You are lucky to have that knife, and as your said that sheath is much better than the one that came with the original! Thanks for sharing!
That's cool find . I'll have to remember the epoxy trick lol
Awesome brother! I don’t have a bowie! Beautiful sheath! Thanks for sharing!
Oh dom you need a Bowie just for a s And g .in you area it would be good
@@tomritter493 I agree!
Those are not 420. Weren't 420 till the 90s.
And this is a 90s era 49
@@tomritter493 it's got carbon rust spots because is chrome vanadium 1095 carbon steel. M was made in 1989 chief. It's a date code the letters that start with A in 77. You don't know what you're talking about.
@@Broddi169 if that be the case then western date stamp info is off that's where I got my info
@@tomritter493 m is 1989. Date code started in 77 with A. I even have an M myself. I've owned a K also. You'll find M is the most popular year and plentiful for some reason.
@@Broddi169 but this is a (w) that's the way I looks on the knife
I have a knock-off made in Pakistan that i bought a long long time ago. No idea what steel it is, but it is good. Wife used it as a garden implement for a while. It is apart on the bench waiting for new scales and a polish someday. Thank you for the review and history, Tom. Stay safe and stay cool
Hay 8 I seen that on the one video you had out I have one .also
You have some awesome and unique knives. I love your knives reviews. Keep up the good work.
Thank you o.a I have an eye for the wierd lol
Id love to see your whole knife collection
At one time 380 knives now maybe 15 but nice ones
Winchester brought out a clone of that about 10 years ago.
Ya I have one here .I broke two .I bought at a yard sale for like a dollar or two each .man they were bad
@@tomritter493 Really? Raymond has had no trouble from his...
@@trollforge ya I was abusive ... lol
They were junk
Have a WESTERN BOWIE....don't know how old it is. On one side of the BLADE just before the guard it says BOWIE in big letters that are upside down from the writing on the other side...on the other side it says,
WESTERN
BOULDER COLO.USA there is no W49 or anything else just what I described. Do you know what year it was made? Early 60's??
Mid 60s gaurd stamp great find this ome is from the 80s and it wouls bring 200 yours probably 350 ill check my chart for date code
Oh welcome to the family greg
Thanks for the info. Have had it for years.
Wasn't a v44 back then was actually called the bushman
Most knows it as a v44 type but I did t know they were called bushman thanks Tcs learn something all the time
So, your saying i should get one? is 200 dollars to expensive for a 1979 model?
Unfortunaly its in the ball park 150 to 250
@@tomritter493 thank you for the response Tom. Hope your feeling better :)
Awesome Bowie my brother 🙂 yea I think I have told you before, the reason why I wanted my Bowie so bad is because of growing up watching the 1954-1955 Davy Crockett tv shows lol I wanted mine unique but at the same time, I wanted mine top quality, I spent almost $500.00 on it but it was hand forged! 🙂 I really love the brass guard, and I favored the old late 1880's design with the eagle beak pommel so I asked for it to be brass as well. I love Bowies and I love history lol awesome video brother 🙂 There is loads of history about the Bowie, some hard facts can be found and some can't really be proven but claimed to be fact lol nevertheless they are awesome!
Ya man big or small love am all . I have a couple what's considered. Bowies . Love em
Have u try baton with some wood how did it hold up or heavy duty full tang at all or what
I've tried but I don't baton usually no need to .it held up .chopping trees kindleing . Butchering .used it to do my brother's pig and nieghbors cow
Oh yes it is full tang
O ok then
Nice looking knife buddy
Thanks John
Now that`s a BIG knife :-)
Yup she's a brute lol
I meant to say I found a small Western hunting knife in the lake, not a nice Bowie knife like that one, unfortunately!