Photos Klein Electrician Knife, please post pics of any electrician types,Thanks!

Misplaced Hillbilly

Misplaced Hillbilly

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Ok here goes, I've posted pics of this knife in a couple threads. I feel like I'm hijacking other threads to ask specific questions about a particular knife. First some info, main blade tang is marked M Klein&Sons Chicago, made in USA, knife appears unused. From what I can gather Klein didn't make these knives but contracted them out, so first question: Who made them? Camillus and Utica seems to be the top contenders,but is there a way to tell?
So when I googled "3 blade electrician knife" the vast majority of images are spear main, screwdriver, and small hawkbill. I've only found one other image of a knife with same blades as mine. Mine looks to be original. So second main question: Any of you guys seen many 3 blade with a sheepfoot and not a hawkbill? Thanks for any info,and please feel free to share pics of your electricians of any make. Having acquired one I'm learning to really appreciate the pattern. Again thanks!
 
Hello M.H. I don't know much about The Electrician's Knife ether but I've always wanted one. Last week I found a very old version.It's The WW2 Military Issue Camillus New York Electrician's Knife W Rogers Brown Bone Jigged covers. It should be landing here any day now and I can't wait tell it does. :cool:1509633063_51_1-600x500.jpg 1509633063_51_10-228x228.jpg 1509633063_51_8-228x228.jpg 1509633063_51_5-228x228.jpg 1509633063_51_7-228x228.jpg
 
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IIRC it was Utica that made Klein's traditional TL-29 and similar knives. But it's second hand knowledge so don't take it as gospel.

Here is my Klein Electrician's knife, a three-blade with the common hawksbill blade. Not sure of the age. The most I can say is that it wasn't even close to new when my boss gave it to me in '77.

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Misplaced Hillbilly said:
29gczro.jpg
2ecdfmx.jpg

Ok here goes, I've posted pics of this knife in a couple threads. I feel like I'm hijacking other threads to ask specific questions about a particular knife. First some info, main blade tang is marked M Klein&Sons Chicago, made in USA, knife appears unused. From what I can gather Klein didn't make these knives but contracted them out, so first question: Who made them? Camillus and Utica seems to be the top contenders,but is there a way to tell?
So when I googled "3 blade electrician knife" the vast majority of images are spear main, screwdriver, and small hawkbill. I've only found one other image of a knife with same blades as mine. Mine looks to be original. So second main question: Any of you guys seen many 3 blade with a sheepfoot and not a hawkbill? Thanks for any info,and please feel free to share pics of your electricians of any make. Having acquired one I'm learning to really appreciate the pattern. Again thanks!
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Where's the nail nick on the sheep's foot blade , is it on the other side ?
If there's not one it could have started out as a hawkbill blade, after all they did carve on the handle which may not have been the only thing they did to it.
 
Hickory n steel said:
Where's the nail nick on the sheep's foot blade , is it on the other side ?
If there's not one it could have started out as a hawkbill blade, after all they did carve on the handle which may not have been the only thing they did to it.
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It is indeed on the other side
 
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Utica makes the Kleins. Not sure how I know that, because although it seems that most of Utica's business is in making knives for others, they're pretty cagey about exactly who. Actually they're pretty quiet about everything.

Oh, and I have seen one 3-bladed electrician with an apparently original sheepsfoot instead of a hawksbill; I think I bought it. Have to look.
 
I've heard Utica as the maker of klein's slipjoints also from Neko2 Neko2 , I'm not sure where he got the information. It came up in conversation when we were discussing the last remaining USA made traditionals, comparing to what we've seen in some of the off-shore made stuff (rough-rider and boker specifically), and he explained how Utica was still around even though I hadn't seen anything from them in a while.
 
This sparked my interest so I searched the web and found Utica is making beautiful knives. Stockmans and trappers. Had no idea. They look like great knives and priced about the same as Case.
 
knarfeng said:
Here is my Klein Electrician's knife, a three-blade with the common hawksbill blade. Not sure of the age. The most I can say is that it wasn't even close to new when my boss gave it to me in '77.
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Long ago, Case made a similar three blade knife with wooden handles sometimes listed in their old catalogs as the 13031 Electrician-Janitor knife. Sure looks like a great jack of all trades!
 
TrapperMike said:
This sparked my interest so I searched the web and found Utica is making beautiful knives. Stockmans and trappers. Had no idea. They look like great knives and priced about the same as Case.
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I did the exact same thing. Limited options but they do look nice. I'm tempted to try one just out of curiosities sake of another US made traditional option.
 
Nice.

I have a two bladed Klein with the same handle material as Frank's. It can get a whitish oxidation or something on it and I picked it up for a few bucks because of that. It was in great shape otherwise. Carbon steel blade. Can anyone date it from my description?

That was the knife that got me into carrying traditionals as an adult. I'd seen people at work in Ky. eat apples with their pocket knife and saw it in an antique store. Carried it for years and still have it around somewhere.
 
bikerector said:
I'm tempted to try one just out of curiosities sake of another US made traditional option.
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I picked up one of their work knife offerings recently. a nice knock about work knife with a sharp carbon blade for not a lot of money. Good strong spring, a great value for the money spent. I have been surprised at how often I have been carrying and using it.
 
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Its the same thickness as my leatherman wave, I think being thick to begin with may be why the original owner removed the bail, and possibly not carried it much. Also check out the thickness of those springs, this was definitely built to be more of a tool. I carry it in my front right pocket no problem, but I do tend to like bigger pocket knives
 
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