In 1990, Al Mar, the famed designer from Gerber Knives who later founded his own company, Al Mar Knives and Steve Gartin of Spyderco fame, converged upon Western Cutlery with designs and ideas that would have revolutionized the cutlery industry.  Western's In-house Custom Shop was manned by the talented knifemakers from the old TimberLine Knife Company, Dan and Jackson Yazzi and Westly Tom.

Together, they designed and built a new line of knives called the Western NightWing line. Using only the finest professional-grade 440C, they produced these proto-types; most etched with the Western/NightWing logo.

Unfortunately, the bankers who purchased Western had other plans and immediately bankrupted the business and sold off all the assets. The DVD video production:Western Cutlery's Grand Opening/Auction documenting the re-birth of Western Cutlery in Longmont, with a speech by Colorado's Governor, Roy Roemer and the death by bankruptcy auction following shortly upon its heels is included with the Western NightWing Collection.

Skinner/Caper (Al Mar Design)

Caper

Skinner (tapered tang)

Western Bowie (Al Mar customization)

Double Edged Fighter (Steve Gartin design)

Kukuri (Steve Gartin design)

Western's Custom Shop also produced hand-ground proto-types for local knife companies such as Lakota.

Lakota Hawk (Made in USA by Western Cutlery Custom Shop)

The Custom Shop also produced some of Western's Classics