Electrician Knife Pattern Research

Great info on a knife pattern that often got taken for granted. I know that when I was in the Army we didn't give them much respect in terms of real appreciation. They were obtainable enough and utilitarian so we didn't think of them much except as handy to have and abuse. The stainless utility knife was treated not much better. Everyone appreciated them as useful and while we appreciated that part, we didn't exactly cherish them as they were always around. Wish I'd hung on to the ones I had, along with my Camillus Pilot's knife.

Now, I've managed to pick up a 90's TL-29 and am hoping to someday pick up another "demo" knife as we called the utility knife. I'm just being cheap, but the right U.S. marked will pop up at the right price and with hopefully a mid/late 80's or early 90's year date, and it will come home.

I'll add my WOW to the comments on your Empire display, Charlie! That should get some attention at the show.
 
Yes, it is a Mike Silvey photo used in his "Pocket Knives of the US Military" book.

All the best
Frank Trzaska
 
He has a definite style! I've seen that book somewhere; Now I have to get a copy!!
Thanks Frank,
Charlie
 


The tang stamp reads "Made In U.S.A." ... a Sears contract knife? By whom?

Codger
 
Here is a picture of my set I got while I was in the Marines from 75-79, It consists of a Camillus Knive and a holub set of TL Pliers.

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Can anyone tell me how the screwdriver blade on the TL-29 would be used to strip insulation? Mine (Camillus, I'm guessing commercial although I have no expertise) has a semi-sharpened section on the screwdriver blade that I think is intended as a wire stripper. I don't see how to use it, though. Any explanations?
 
You run the blade around the wire holding it tight with your thumb on the opposite side of the insulation, hard enough to score the insulation, but not the metal conductor inside. Like scoring/cutting the bark on a tree to kill it.
Keeping it a little tight, you yank/slide the insulation off. You probably have to cut yourself a few times before you become good at it!!
 
As a retired Wyoming cable tv technician, where I first used Old Timers in the late 70's, I can attest to some blood letting before becoming good at wire stripping and coax prep.
 
I was reading through this old thread and thought it was bringing back, especially since the demise of Camillus.

Question:
Does anyone know if Camillus made the TL-29s for M. Klein Tools?

BTW, I have been collecting TL-29s for a while now and have about 60 of them. I am still looking for an Empire, a Remington & a Winchester.

Dale
 
Here's another unusual version - made by UNIMARI ITALY, marked "TL-29" in gold on the handle (complete with the quote marks!), screwdriver stamped instead of etched with the closing instructions. Handles are some sort of black plastic which has shrunk quite a bit. The screwdriver lock, center pin and liners are brass, the bolsters and bail are a bright silver-colored metal. Seems to be of mediocre quality:

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It's kind of outside my current interests, if somebody wants to give it a good home I'm sure we can work something out...
 
This is a great thread to bump to the top again.

Two Electrician knives I obtained recently:

#1 - Schrade Walden 204S. As described in old Schrade Walden catalogs. Cocobolo handles, silver nickel bolsters and shield, steel shackle, brass liners and pins (3).

#2 - Schrade Cut Co. No shield. Steel bolsters, liners, and pins (4) Nice tip Codger, the magnet test. Liner lock not marked with PRESS. Slimmer cocobolo handles.

Any thoughts or someone with similar examples of #2. I did not see a similar one in the Schrade Cut Co catalogs, which doesn't surprise me. Maybe a contract knife. Or just an unshielded 2041? Is it different pattern?

204_front.jpg


204_back.jpg


They made these patterns to last. Heavy duty! The stripper blades are like the jaws of life. Thumbnail busters
 
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Thank you very much to Codger_64 and trz for the detailed history of the TL-29 knife.
Now I know about my Electrician knives much more.
Similar topics must always be on top.
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I stayed a couple of questions:
In what year was abolished requirement "TL-29" labeling?
In what year began to be used stainless steel?
 
Vit_213 said:
Thank you very much to Codger_64 and trz for the detailed history of the TL-29 knife.
Now I know about my Electrician knives much more.
Similar topics must always be on top.

I stayed a couple of questions:
In what year was abolished requirement "TL-29" labeling?
In what year began to be used stainless steel?
Click to expand...
Nice knives, and I would like to hear the answers to your questions as well. :)
-Bruce
 
Is it possible that a set of TE-33 contained a Camillus TL-29 knife and Utica TL-13 pliers?
What year pliers TL-13 was changed to cutting pliers TL-13A?
 
I found this knife recently and did not know if i should ask the question here or start a new thread so, does anyone here have any information on this Empire electricians knife. I love these old threads (great job Codger) like I love the old knives that are in them and who would not be amazed at Charlies display of Empire knives and the work that went into it. I see a couple of electricians knives in the 11:00 position of Charlie's Empire display. I also love Ken Erickson's custom rendition of the Empire electricians knife that has a lockback. The knife I have looks like the S.C. USA easy open knife that TRZ posted with the exception of the shield and the screwdriver blade does not lock. Codger says that "Cattaraugus is credited with a 1909 patent for the liner lock used on the screwdriver blade. Some knives of this pattern are described in catalogs as being without the lock" This knife also has Central Electric Co (and Chicago under it) on the main blade so I searched for that company and found catalogs from 1898 to 1917. Thanks for any additional information

Dave







http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php/438398-Empire-Knife-Company-Research/page2
http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php/852569-Electricians-knife
 
I am experimenting with this tinypic.com hosting service and thought this would be a nice place for a couple photos. Nickel silver shield and bolsters, brass liners. Screwdriver unlocks by pressing on spine of master spear with half stop. Pre-War, certainly.
p.s. I almost forgot to thank the contributors to this amazing encyclopedic treatise on a plebian but essential tool. Btw, the one I am posting is "as new," except for a little tarnish.

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