Vintage Latama Question

[diamondjim]

I just picked up this older Latama, the release button appears to be Red Plastic.
Is this knife missing some sort of steel cap that would have been installed over the plastic?
The safety button looks like it has a steel cap on a brass button.
How hard would it be to replace this or have it repaired?

Thanks, Jim

[wiseguy]

looks like maybe the cap was lost and that red thing sneaked in there by the light chipping at the edges...to do it rite it would need to come apart but you could remove the red thing and carefully epoxy a cap on it if the area is sound. Nice old knife

[diamondjim]

I knew that it would probably come down to having it taken apart and the related costs involved.
This was a pot sweetener for a multi-item trade and I'm not really prepared to spend money to have it repaired properly.
Looks like this has just become a Catch & Release, any idea what the value might be in this condition?
It's 8" with black horn, brass liners and a real pretty red button. HaHa

[wiseguy]

[Bill DeShivs]

A really good repair person can solder a nickel silver (proper material) button in place without removing the handle-IF all the glue from the red thing can be removed.

[0078]

Pm the muskrat man, he is the best I've ever seen on switches.

[diamondjim]

I didn't think it could be repaired without tearing it apart but Bill seems to be a resident authority so I might give that a try. After a few hours researching automatics I've grown an appreciation for the quality displayed in some of these. Thanks for all the suggestions.

[Bill DeShivs]

Your knife is well worth repairing.