Lot # : 403 - WWII US NAVY USS RUSSEL DD-414 NAMED WESTERN KNIFE

This is a near excellent condition example of the World War II production fighting knife, manufactured by the Western States Cutlery & Manufacturing Company. Western Cutlery was originally founded as Platts & Sons Cutlery in Gowanda, NY, in 1896. Charles Platts, who was an immigrant from Sheffield, England, founded the company. He had been employed in the knife making trade in Sheffield and knew the manufacturing process well. Platts also spent some 30 years working as a supervisor at the Northfield Knife Company in Northfield, CT, prior to starting his own company. Platts’ pocketknife business quickly became quite successful, and after only a year in business he moved the company to Eldridge, PA. Charles Platts died in 1900, but his sons continued to run the company until 1905, when his son H.N. Platts bought out all of the family owners and moved the company to Bradford, PA. In 1911, Platts moved the company to Boulder, CO, with the intention of taking advantage of the continuing western expansion in the United States. At this time, he re-established the company with the new name: Western Cutlery & Manufacturing Company. Platts’ Boulder factory was one of the first production facilities in that city and his business continued to expand and prosper over the coming decades. Not long after moving to Boulder, Western Cutlery introduced two manufacturing trademarks – Western and West-Cut. Their primary product lines revolved around pocket knives, but they also pioneered some innovative belt knife designs, including the introduction of double tangs and aluminum end caps. The knife is in NEAR EXCELLENT condition and retains about 90%+ of its original deeply blued finish on the 8” blade. The loss is mostly along the high points of the blade and appears to be mostly from insertion and removal from the scabbard, along with some handling. The blade retains its original factory edge and shows no signs of sharpening, although some very light scuffing is visible on the blade surface. The blade is free of any pitting, but there are some freckled areas of light surface oxidation here and there and a couple of tiny areas of minor surface roughness. The stamped metal crossguard and the exposed edges of the dual tangs that run down the length of the grip show some evenly distributed areas of light to moderate surface oxidation. Some of this could probably be lightly cleaned, if so desired. The pommel cap retains some minute traces of its original bright blued finish, which has flaked, with the exposed metal having oxidized to a rich brown patina. The pommel cap also shows a pair of roughly peened tangs, typical of Western knives. The hilt is in about FINE condition and the stacked leather washer grip is crisp and in very nice shape. The leather washers show only light handling marks and scuffing, along with some minor round impact marks near the pommel cap. The leather portion of the grip is bookended by a pair of black and a single red, Bakelite washers at the crossguard and pommel cap. A correct, Western Cutlery leather sheath accompanies the knife, and shows the expected two lines of stitching around the perimeter, reinforced with blackened, domed rivets. This pattern of sheath is shown as example F in Bill Walters’ book, and he notes that this is the most commonly encountered variant of Western sheath for a G-46-8 knife. The sheath is in about FINE condition and shows the wear commensurate with the use shown on the knife. The stitching is in place around the periphery of the scabbard and remains secure, although the thread does show some discoloration from age and use. All of the rivets are in place and secure as well. The hilt-retaining strap is in place as well, a feature that is often missing from these scabbards, due to use, wear, and age. The sheath retains some of its original finish, but has darkened slightly due to age, use and exposure. The leather does show a number of surface scuff and wear marks, and some scattered areas of more noticeable darkening from dirt and oil, as would be expected. Both blade and scabbard are named to a member of DD-414 USS Russel. His name was S.J. Limbrunner. Overall, this is a really wonderful example of a real WWII production 8” Western “Fighting” Knife. These knives are very scarce today, as Western did not produce nearly as many as some of the larger blade manufacturers like Camillus and Union Cutlery (aka KaBar) did. These knives are highly sought after today for military edged weapons collections, because of their very high-quality construction and their rarity when compared to other maker’s fighting utility knives. This one has a fantastic condition blade and will be a fine addition to your collection of WWII fighting knives. World War II1942: Russell was ordered to the Pacific, and she transited the Panama Canal and proceeded to San Diego, where on 6 January 1942, she sailed west, screening reinforcements to Samoa. By the time of her arrival, 20 January, the Japanese had moved into British Malaya, Borneo, the Celebes and Gilbert Islands, and the Bismarck Archipelago. Within the week, Rabaul fell and the Japanese continued on to New Ireland and the Solomons while further west they extended their occupation of the Netherlands East Indies.On 25 January, Russell sailed north with Task Force 17 (TF 17), screened USS Yorktown (CV-5) as her planes raided Makin, Mili, and Jaluit on 1 February, then set a course for Pearl Harbor. In mid month, the force sailed again. Diverted from its original destination, Wake Island, it covered forces establishing an airbase on Canton Island, important on the Hawaii-Samoa-Fiji route to Australia and less than 1,000 miles (1,600 km) from Makin. Raids on Rabaul and Gasmata were next ordered to cover a movement of troops to New Caledonia, but on 8 March the Japanese landed at Salamaua and Lae in New Guinea and Port Moresby was threatened. The force, again joined by the Lexington force, steamed into the Gulf of Papua, where on 10 March, planes were sent over the Owen Stanley Range to bomb the newly established Japanese bases on the Huon Gulf. Through April, Russell continued to screen the Yorktown force, operating primarily in the ANZAC area. Detached on 3 May to screen USS Neosho (AO-23) during fueling operations with TF 11, she rejoined TF 17 early on 5 May and resumed screening duties for the force's heavier units. On 7 May in the Coral Sea, she engaged enemy planes closing the formation to threaten Yorktown and Lexington and to support Japanese forces in an assault on Port Moresby. Lexington hit and was heavily damaged, but still in action, continued to recover and launch planes. Three hours later, however, she reported a serious explosion. A second followed. Her fires were no longer under control. She soon commenced abandoning ship. Russell joined her screen, circled the crippled ship as rescue ships evacuated personnel, and with the completion of that work, departed the scene of the Battle of the Coral Sea. Retiring to Tonga, Russell debarked 170 survivors from Lexington and sailed for Pearl Harbor. Arriving on 27 May, she headed out again on 30 May, this time toward Midway Island. On 4 June, TFs 16 and 17 again met the enemy in an air duel, through which Russell steamed in the screen of Yorktown. In the afternoon, enemy torpedo planes broke through the screen and scored successfully on the carrier. The patched-up survivor of the Battle of the Coral Sea was abandoned. Russell took on 492 of her crew and aviation personnel. The next day she transferred 27 to Astoria to assist in salvage operations on the carrier, but Japanese torpedoes (from I-168) negated the effort and Yorktown and Hammann were lost. On 10 June, Russell covered the transferral of replacements from Saratoga to Hornet and Enterprise, and on 13 June, she returned to Pearl Harbor. Engaged in training exercises for the next 2 months, Russell again sortied with TF 17 on 17 August, took station screening Hornet, and headed southwest. On the 29th, TF 17 joined TF 61, becoming Task Group 61.2 (TG 61.2). On the 31st, Saratoga took a torpedo and Russell conducted an unsuccessful submarine hunt, the first of many in the long and costly campaign for Guadalcanal. On 6 September, one of Hornet's planes dropped an explosive off Russell's starboard quarter to detonate a torpedo. Another submarine search commenced. On 1452, she established contact and dropped six 600-pound depth charges. At 1513, she sighted an oil slick 1 mile by one-half-mile, but contact was lost at 700 yards and never regained. Through the remainder of the year, and into the new, Russell continued to operate in support of the Guadalcanal campaign. On 25–26 October, she participated in the Battle of the Santa Cruz Islands, during which she again joined in rescue operations for a sinking carrier, this time Hornet, from which she transferred the commander of TF 17, Rear Admiral George D. Murray and his staff to Pensacola, seriously wounded personnel to USS Northampton (CA-26), and other survivors to Nouméa where Russell's superstructure, damaged during rescue work, was repaired.1943: In December 1942 – January 1943, she screened convoys to Guadalcanal and Tulagi, then to Rennell. In February, she screened Enterprise, then in March, resumed convoy escort work, making one run to Australia and back by mid-April. On 1 May, the destroyer set a course for the west coast. At the end of July, after overhaul at Mare Island, she steamed north to join forces staging for the "invasion" of Kiska Island. Aleutian patrol duty followed, and with the arrival of autumn, she turned south to escort landing craft to Hawaii. In October, she continued on to Wellington, New Zealand; and, in early November, she escorted transports to the New Hebrides where she joined TF 53, then preparing to push into the Gilberts. Underway on 13 November with the Task Force, she arrived with the troop transports off Betio, Tarawa, on 20 November, then screened heavier units as they shelled the shore. Remaining in the area until 25 November, she provided gunfire support and screened the transports as they filled with Marine casualties. On 27 November, she joined TG 50.3 and, with TG 50.1, sailed for the Marshall Islands. On 4 December, carrier planes raided Kwajalein and Wotje, and on 9 December, the force returned to Pearl Harbor, whence Russell continued on to the west coast.1944: On 13 January 1944, Russell, screening TG 53.5, departed the California coast. Training in the Hawaiian Islands followed. On the 22nd, the force headed west. On 30 January, Russell joined other destroyers and heavier units in shelling Wotje. On 31 January, she rejoined the main force off Kwajalein and, after initial screening duties, added her guns to the naval gunfire support line. On 2 February, she screened Carrier Division 22 (CarDiv 22) and on the 3rd, entered Kwajalein lagoon. Standing out 5 days later, she arrived at Pearl Harbor on 15 February and was directed on to Puget Sound for repairs. Repairs completed in March, Russell returned to Hawaii in early April, then escorted Willard Holbrook to New Guinea where she rejoined DesRon 2. Arriving at Finschhafen on 4 May, she reported to the commander of TF 76 at Sudest on 6 May and commenced 5 months of intensive and navigationally difficult escort work along the New Guinea coast. Assigned initially to escort LSTs resupplying Hollandia and Aitape, she joined TF 77 on 16 May and covered LCIs and ATs to the Wakde-Sarmi area. From 17–20 May, she stood off Wakde, marking the approach channel on the first day of the campaigns there and providing fire support and screening services on the others. On 20 May, she returned to Humboldt Bay and 5 days later sailed with LSTs for Biak to commence Operation "Horlick." On 27 May, she shelled Padaido Islands, patrolled between Pai and Padaidori Islands, blasted targets on Biak, and then got underway to return to Humboldt Bay. Into June, she continued to escort convoys to and provide cover for operations at Biak and Wakde. In mid-June, she participated in a bombardment of the Toem area, then resumed escort runs along the coast. In early July, Noemfoor, with its two Japanese airfields, became the target. At mid month Russell gained a brief respite at Manus Island, then at the end of the month commenced Operation "Globetrotter", the capture of Sansapor. Through August, she continued operations in support of the campaign and, in mid-September, moved forward to the Molucca Islands to cover the occupation of Morotai, the last stepping stone on the southern route to the Philippines and on the eastern route to Borneo and the Netherlands East Indies. On 13 October, Russell sailed with TF 78 for the Philippines and on 20 October, as the troops of the Northern Attack Force landed south of Tacloban, patrolled off Alabat Point. On 21 October, she took up fire support duties to the north of the unloading area. Until 24 October, she remained in San Pedro Bay, resumed patrol in Leyte Gulf on 25 October, and on 26 October, got underway for New Guinea, where, in November–December, she escorted reinforcements to Leyte. On 28 December, Russell departed Aitape for the invasion of Luzon, and steamed into the Mindoro Strait on 5 January 1945. Two days later, she joined three other destroyers in forming an interceptor force 5 miles on the starboard of the San Fabian Attack Force to destroy any enemy ships attempting a sortie from Manila Bay against the convoy. At 2230, Hinoki was detected and fired on. Hinoki exploded and sank within 20 minutes. Russell was ordered to pick up survivors from the Hinoki. Although several swimmers were seen in the water, they refused to be rescued.1945: On 9 January, the force, having survived harassing attacks by planes, boats, and ships, arrived in Lingayen Gulf and Russell assumed screening duties off the transport area. For 9 days, she patrolled, illuminated, bombarded, and fought off kamikazes. From 18–23 January, she escorted damaged ships back to Leyte and, on 27 January, sailed north again. On 31 January, she arrived off Nasugbu Bay, covered YMSs (Motor Minesweepers) as they cleared approach channels, then fired on enemy emplacements on Nasugbu Point. Relieved in late afternoon, she returned to Lingayen Gulf, thence, on 2 February, to Leyte, New Guinea, and the Solomons. Russell arrived at Guadalcanal on 15 February, rejoined the 5th Fleet and prepared for Operation "Iceberg", the Okinawa offensive. On 1 April, she arrived off the assault beaches and commenced screening the Northern Transport area. From 3–5 April, she patrolled north of Ie Shima, then returned to the transport area to escort a convoy to Ulithi. Returning to the Hagushi beaches with reinforcements on 21 February, she shifted to Kerama Retto, whence she patrolled in carrier operating area "Rapier", south of Okinawa, into May. Detached from carrier screening duty on 27 May, she proceeded to the Hagushi anchorage and got underway the following day for the United States and a yard overhaul. Still undergoing overhaul at Seattle, Washington when the war ended, Russell was prepared for inactivation during September, and on 15 November, she was decommissioned. Thirteen days later she was struck from the Navy List and, in September 1947, she was sold for scrap to the National Metal and Steel Corporation, Terminal Island, Los Angeles.