Bringing it back to life ... Western USA L66

[darsk20]

First post here, other than commenting on others ... be gentle [emoji6].

I was digging through some boxes in the basement and ran across my old hunting knife. I hadn't seen it in at least 15 years or more after having moved 8 times in that amount of time.

Funny story, Iam not the original owner. My Dad found it probably close to 30 years ago while hunting in the Tennessee woods. It had already been there a while and had obtained a patina (read rust) and the leather had been well weathered.

I am going to try to gently revive it. Not to its original glory. I like the patina and it has many memories of hunting with my Dad.

I have already put an edge back on it and next will be looking at rejuvenating the stacked leather handle and sheath.

Thoughts?

I will get some better pictures once I track down my wife's light box.

 

[Henry Beige]

Saddle soap and Lexol.

 

[irona]

Great knife!
One tip I would give is to save the sharpening for the absolute last step. This way you can handle the knife without fear of cutting yourself. I actually tend to blunt my knives with a scotch-brite pad before restoring. They become as dull as butter knives without flattening or chipping the edge, so when I sharpen them back to shave hair I don't loose much blade meat in the process.


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[afishhunter]

Or tape the blade so you don't slice yourself.

The L66 was/is my favorite Western fixed blade.

 

[darsk20]

Thanks for the input everyone.

Planning on picking up the saddle soap and lexol after work.

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[zzyzzogeton]

The "C" in the third line of the stamp means the knife was made in 1979.

Western started "date coding" blades in 1977, starting with "A". After Coleman bought Western in 1984, they continued the practice. No one knows why Coleman put a circle around "I" and "J" year on folders and smaller fixed blade knives (1985 and 1986). No circles on the W49/W46 date codes. "M" (1989) was the last year with quantities made. A few "N" (1990) and very, very few "O" (1991) knives were produced. When Camillus acquired the rights to the Western name and product line, Camillus dropped the date coding.