Is This An L88?

In 1911, H. N. Platts, was able to draw on his extensive friendships and family connections in the cutlery world to start Western States Cutlery and Manufacturing of Boulder Colorado. At first only a jobbing business, by 1920 construction and machinery purchases were underway to begin manufacture of knives. Through name changes--to Western States Cutlery Co. in 1953, then Western Cutlery Co. in 1956--and moves first across town and later to Longmont Colorado, the company stayed under the leadership of the Platt family until 1984. In that year, the company was sold to Coleman, becoming Coleman-Western. Eventually purchased by Camillus in 1991, Western continued until Camillus expired in 2007.
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fireattack18
Posts: 15
Joined: Sun Dec 15, 2024 12:33 am

Is This An L88?

Post by fireattack18 »

Here are photos of what I think might be an L88. It has obviously been manipulated a lot but many years ago. The story from my dad (80) is that his brother "made it" when he was a kid. Thus I don't know if his brother is the one that put it together, or....who knows.
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Looks like the leather handle disks (terminology) are handmade (not sanded smooth), and the plastic (terminology) spacers are missing. The guard looks a bit thin and cocked at an angle. The blade looks to have been sharpened a lot, and excess material may have been removed. The "flat-blade" (terminology) edge bevel extends all the way to the top of the blade, rather than about midway. The droop tip cut (terminology) also looks to be rounded off due to sanding..
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The stamp is;

WESTERN
BOULDER COLO.
PAT. NO. 1,967,479

I guess that would push it to between 1934 and 1952ish. If he indeed did this when he was a kid, it should hold the date back to the 30's or 40's.

The aluminum pommel also looks to have been manipulated, sanded and carved.
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Any ideas what is was?

Since my uncle may have put it together (he was probably born about 1945) when he was a kid (1950's)...I figured I would not mess with attempting to restore it.
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