MAKER:   Western

PATTERN:   L77

OAL:   11”

BLADE LENGTH:   6-3/4”

GUARD:   Steel

HANDLE:   Stacked leather

TANG STAMPS:   WESTERN/BOULDER, COLO./PAT. NO. 1,967,479

SHEATH:   Leather

CONDITION:   Very Good

DAMAGE:   Wear to the handle and blades, dings, scratches, light pitting. Guard is loose which is not uncommon. See pictures for further details.

BLADE WEAR:   Approx 15%. Harvey Platts book list the overall length of this knife and 11 inches with 7” of blade. The overall length of this knife is 11” but the blade is 6-3/4”. I have noticed this with other Western knives; sometimes the blades are over length from what is shown in the catalog listing.

SHEATH:  Leather. Appears to be original though missing the handle strap.

AGE:  Circa World War II

MADE IN:   U.S.A.

ADDITIONAL INFO:   The L77 was the knife most commonly used by United States Marines in World War II prior to the introduction of the 1219C2, a.k.a.; the Kabar.†

Until the spring of 1943 Marines going to the Pacific Theater of World War II had to purchase their own sheath knives prior to deploying overseas. Although many hunting knives were used, the Western L77 was the most popular knife sold in the Exchanges on Marine Corps bases on the West Coast. Many Marines deploying to the Pacific purchase the L77 prior to deployment. In many ways the L77 was the Marine Corps combat knife that preceded the “Kabar.”

†The first production run of 2,100 of the 1219C2 were made by Camillus Cutlery and shipped January 27, 1943. The 1219C2 was the knife that became famous in Marine Corps history as the Kabar, (the U.S. Navy called it the Mark II fighting knife). The reason it is known forever as the Kabar, (no matter who made it and Camillus made far more of them in World War II than did Kabar), is that the first batch of 1219C2s that reach the Marines in the Pacific was a batch of knives made by Kabar.

*By Purchasing, The Buyer Confirms It Is Legal For Them Purchase And Own This Knife.

I will ship this knife via Priority Mail. The shipping price includes insurance.

Item # 20451