Orvet Customs

MAKER:  Western, Boulder Colorado

CUSTOMIZED BY:  Orvet Customs (Dale Vincent)

PATTERN:  #L66

OVERALL LENGTH:  8-3/4"

HANDLES:  Honey Amber Stag Bone

BLADE ETCH:  ORRVET CUSTOMS(logo)/DALE VINCENT

TANG STAMPS:  WESTERN/BOULDER, COLO/U.S.A.

CONDITION:  Restored knife - probable 1950s vintage

GUARD:   Brass

POMMEL: Aluminum bird’s head pommel.

SHEATH: This sheath is one I made copying the same style as many of the old Western brand sheaths.

MADE IN:  U.S.A.

CUSTOMIZED IN: U.S.A. by Orvet (Dale Vincent)

ADDITIONAL INFO:                        This knife is a Western L66 and from the tang stamp probably dates to the 1950s although it could be a little earlier or a couple years later. The original knife had the leather ring handles on the patented Western bifurcated tang. The leather rings on the handles had deteriorated and there is some pitting of the blade (see pictures). If you look in the last picture you will see the knife as I originally got it, the leather rings were in such poor shape that someone had the ramped the handle and electrical tape to keep them from falling off, (see the last picture where the handle is wrapped in tape). Even the fiber spacers at either end of the handle were in bad shape, really beyond saving. After removing all the rings and spacers I filed and sanded the bifurcated tang to get down to unrusted metal. I installed a white and a red liner along the bifurcated tang in order to raise it up enough to install the bone handles. I replaced the rings at both end of the handle following what was left of the pattern that was on the knife originally.  I installed Honey Amber Stag Bone for the handles. The sheath I made by hand using an old Western sheath as the pattern. Beneath the strap that holds the knife in the sheath I placed a piece of soft leather over the snap so that it will not rub the bone handle and scratch it. There are a few pits and scratches left on this knife, but to me it adds character. If a person were to purchase this knife and use it on a regular basis as their primary hunting knife, I think it has at least one or two lifetimes of service left in it. I am a super fan of Western Cutlery’s carbon steel! I think it gets sharper, holds an edge better and sharpens far easier than any other carbon steel contemporary with Western or even the modern companies that make 1095 carbon steel knives. That is why the old carbon steel Western knives are some of the most sought after old knives by hunters.

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

Item # 35131