Is this an L46-6 ?

[CampbellAr2]

Appreciate any input ya'll might have on what I suspect is an L46-6.

6inch blade, Double brass guard, Stacked leather handle, Aluminum bird head pommel with lanyard hole

Stamped
WESTERN
BOULDER, COLO.
PAT. NO 1,967,478

It looks like a post-war blade, but that fuller/blood groove is a new one for me vs the G46's I've seen before, and those old catalog reproductions I'm looking at really don't show a lot of detail on this "blood groove"

Thanks!
Ed

[zzyzzogeton]

It's an L46-6 post-WW2 version made using leftover blades from the final contract canceled by the government when the war ended. It's post-war due to the brass guard. Western did not use brass on any WW2-era production.

The fuller looks more like those found on 48ABGs (aka L48As) from 1947 to 1953. Probably someone farting around in the shop.

Definitely puts it in the "unique" category. Not more valuable, just more unique.

[CampbellAr2]

Much appreciated!