Ron that is an awesome knife with a patina that speaks of age and value. Bill thanks for the data on the "L."
I do like to understand minutia, and sometimes interesting questions arise. For instance... to acid-etch a blade requires effort and special equipment including pantograph, chemicals, acid bath, etc. So I wonder why someone would go to all that effort to etch only a single "L" (perhaps a name is on opposite side?) if TL were simply putting an un-adorned handle on a knife. Especially it it were only distinguished from a shop handle by the spacers? And when would the "L" be etched on the blade? At the shop or by someone else afterwards, but before the handle was installed? Were certain blades dedicated to TL by the shop and marked "L" at the shop before delivery?
This is all just curiosity and of minor importance. But it does illustrate the need to ask logical questions when something is not fully explained, ...even minor "somethings." I love mysteries.