New to the forum with ID question

[AlexW]

Well, just like the title says, I'm a newbie. I've always found sharp objects fascinating, and most of what I know about them has to do with what blades are better and what you should use for a given kitchen related task. Outside of the kitchen, my knowledge of knives declines quite a bit.

This post is a cry for help on identifying a knife that I inherited from my grandfather when he passed away about two years ago. It's a Western, still in the box with sheath and the pink slip of paper telling you about what you've purchased. If I had to guess from the box, it looks to be around 30 years+ old, and evidently they stamped a letter somewhere on the knife signifying the year, and I think that started in '75 from what I read in another thread, and this knife doesn't seem to have that kind of stamp, so perhaps it's older? It's an L66, and the blade reads "Western/Boulder, Colo./U.S.A."

I've buffed and de-rusted the knife, but it had suffered some pitting in the years that it sat in the top of his closet, which I would like to take out as soon as I get some practice on something else. I definitely don't want to goof this one up. Honestly, I think I could hone the blade (it still has a fair edge on it, BTW) and use it for whatever use I could find for it.
I apologize for the crappy pic....will post some better ones.

Thanks!
Alex

[justold52]

The first thing that comes to my mind is Value.

That has to be a PRICELESS knife to you in my opinion.
Do to the fact it has been passed down from Gran-Dad.

Then why do you want to sharpen and use her ?
You see you have to pick out what YOU want to do with that knife.
Look at it and save her to pass on to you son. Your Grand-Dad will never buy you another knife again.
OR use it because thats what to knife was made for.

If a knife has been sharpened it is worth less in value for a collector.
Even buffing it will give her a less value for a collector.
If that knife was mine I would just polish her up with some metal creaming polish like Flitz and a clean rag.
Then get some Renaissance Wax and wax the whole knife.
Do not store her in the sheath.
The leather has been soked in salt and in time will rust the knife.

[El Lobo]

The knife would've been made before 1977, but hard to say how much before, when the stamping of a letter to signify the year of production began. The L in L66, stands for leather handle, as there was also a W66 (wood) and maybe a composite handle (?) as well. They made a lot of this very popular style. In fact, Camillus was still making it up until they closed.
In my opinion, it's a fine knife to own and use.

Bill

[AlexW]

I doubt that it has much value outside of my hands, and the main reason that I'm wanting it to be in a usable state is that that's what my grandfather would have done. He never saw the point in having a knife that wasn't sharp. He was the kind of guy who would sharpen his pocket knifes on the nearest brick or concrete step. I still don't know when or how I'll use it, given that I don't hunt, but since I'm keeping it for me, I don't much see the point in owning a dull knife. Now that I look it over, I think I'll keep the pitting from the rust...adds a bit of character, IMO.

So as for storage, not in the sheath, and I'm assuming that the Ren-wax is what you use as a rust preventive?

Thanks,
Alex

[El Lobo]

You might try stropping the blade on the back of a Legal pad. The cardboard is a mild abrasive that works pretty well on high carbon steels that aren't super hard on the Rockwell Scale.

Stack 3 pennies...that's the angle/height to keep the spine of the blade...then draw the blade left to right (spine leading...edge trailing) 20 strokes. Reverse, and go right to left for 20 strokes. You should be able to feel the burr (if any) and see fine cardboard dust. See if that helps. It's cheap, takes off no metal, and it usually works if the edge isn't damaged and the knife isn't really dull.

JMO, and compliments of Ernie Emerson.

Bill