I picked up a big knife at a flea market last weekend for 20 bucks and I was just trying to find out some info on it. The only markings on it that I can find are on the brass guard thing and it says Western U.S.A. W49. It came with a black leather sheath that has no markings at all on it. I can tell its been well used in its lifetime as the point isn't very pointy anymore and there's almost no edge to it anymore either which should make a fun project to sharpen. Its got some nice looking wood grips on the handle. I was just wondering if anyone knew anything about it. I'll post some pics in a minute.

 

Well thats a Western USA W49 Bowie knife. There should be another letter stamped on it somewhere and that letter will tell you the date of manufacture. They use the alphabet so A=1977 B=1978 C=1979 and so on. But supposedly there are some that were made in the early early 70s that didn't have a date letter stamped on them.

 

There isn't any other letters or anything stamped on it. From what I could find though, they were first made in 64 and some soldiers carried them in Vietnam. Whether that's true or not, I don't know.

Here's the pics:

 

Yeah that must be a pre-1977 then. The first W49s were made around the korean war era but there aren't many of those around. Its probably late 60s early 70s

 

Think its worth more than the $20 I paid for it? I'm sure in its current shape it probably not worth much. I got it just to use when I go camping and out playin in the woods.

 

I probably would've paid that for it.

 

Hey that's a nice one and for $20 its a good buy.Thanks for the pics.