Any idea what this is? Dollar value?

Charlie Mike

Sober since 1-7-14 (still a Paranoid Nutjob)
Knifemaker / Craftsman / Service Provider
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I don't have the sheath :(
 
The pre 1977 Westerns were not date coded. Yours is a lot earlier. It is against Forum rules to request what a knife is worth.
 
Right off hand it looks like an (L48). What is it's length overall and the blade length? That might help narrow it down some.
 
Yes, looks like an L48 to me. Here’s one from the 1941 Western catalog.
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They didn’t make any of these during the War. The different markings on the blade of the Western sheath knives referring to the Patient were present in one form or the other from 1931-1950.
From what I can find in the catalogs, the post War knives were a little different and came in two flavors. An L48A and an L48B.
The L48A would look much like the knife you have but with a thin fuller added.
The L48B’s seem to only come with a shorter blade.
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IMHO you have a pre-war L48. If it were my knife I’d make a sheath for it and use it. Nice bird/trout knife. I’d preserve the blade and handle with proper care and sharpening. Being careful to maintain the original lines of the blade. If your knife were in excellent condition I’d have a different approach to the situation. Still it’s a well made old knife that will never be made the same way as they originally were, by a company that is no longer around and has a great history in the knife community. Over time a good knife even with honest wear becomes more desirable by those who don’t have one.
 
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