Questions about Camillus Electrician Knife

[5K Qs]

Last weekend I picked up a Camillus electrician's knife (I doubt if it was military issue, so I shouldn't call it a TL-29, right?) at a local gun & knife show. Several vendors at the show had various brands of this type of knife for sale, but were asking at least 3 times what I paid a nice young salesman for the Camillus. I spent an hour or so cleaning it up a little once I got home, and I'm thrilled with my purchase! I found some info about Camillus tang stamps by searching this forum, and if I'm interpreting that info correctly, the knife is probably from the 1980s (tang stamp photo below). The spearpoint blade was REALLY stiff when I got it: I could start opening it with the nail nick, but had to then change my grip to a "pinch" to get it open to the half-stop and beyond. But after cleaning and oiling the joint, I'd say the pull on both blades is a solid 7 or 8 - almost ideal IMHO. There's some pepper spotting, especially on the screwdriver blade (photo below), but I think I can get rid of some of that with a little more effort. I can slip a post-it note between springs and liners in a couple of spots, but not if I fold the paper, so I think the fit is pretty nice. I still have to sharpen it; both blades were duller than on any knife I've ever handled.

But I have some questions, since I'm quite uninformed on lots of knife-related matters:
1) Are the blades, bolster, backsprings carbon or stainless steel? (My guess is stainless, since I detect no signs of patina.)
2) The scales are obviously synthetic, but are they black Delrin, or some kind of insulating hard rubber, or what?
3) Was the edge of the screwdriver blade usually sharpened, at least for part of its length? Mine would struggle to cut butter right now.

Here's a photo of the tang stamp:

Some rust on the screwdriver:

Couple more photos, just because I like the way it looks

I've read about these knives here quite often, and always thought that someday I should try to get one of these classic, no frills, working knives. But I'm surprised at how "elegant" this baby looks! The matte black handles setting off the silvery bolster and blades, along with the sort of sleeveboard shape, looks incredibly classy to me!

Thanks for any info you can provide.

- GT

 

[MercyfulfateXX]

I know the edge of the screwdriver was Not supposed to be sharpened.

 

[Mustang11]

If I had to guess, both blades and the backsprings are carbon steel. The bolsters are nickel silver, and the screwdriver is supposed to be sharp about 2/3 of the way from tang to tip, it's used to strip insulation from wires. I'm at a loss on the handles, I've got the same knife and I don't think they're delrin??? Whatever the case maybe you've got an excellent knife, one of the best patterns made for hard work!

 

[jujigatame]

I worked the lower part of the screwdriver on mine to where it has enough of an edge to scrape but not really bite in and cut anything at a shallow angle.

 

[davek14]

Great knife.

Less filling.

The screwdriver blade is meant to strip wire, scrape, pry if you're careful, and be a screwdriver. All the things you're not supposed to use a knife blade for. You can sharpen a bit but keep a pretty obtuse edge if you want to use it like that.

 

[dma1965]

Those old Camillus TL29s are built like tanks. I use my Sharpmaker to put a very keen edge on the spear blade. The steel is 1095. I also sharpen the utility blade with my Sharpmaker, although I do not take it to razor sharp.

There are tons of them out there, and I get them on eBay for a low enough price that I like to modify them. I like to regrind the utility blade into a Wharncliffe, and use it for a locking whittler blade. It makes a great EDC. Here are a few I recently made. I replaced the scales on the top one (a Camillus) with almond wood from my own tree. The one below it is an old Schrade Walden I modified. It has original cocobolo scales on it.

The bottom picture is an old Camillus that has the original scales which I sanded with fine sandpaper. Both of the Camillus knives arrived to me very rusty and in sad shape, but cleaned up quite nicely. The blades are quite meaty on these, so they can take a lot of buffing and grinding if needed.

 

[Rsmith_77]

 

[5K Qs]

Thanks for the helpful information, guys. :thumbup:

Mustang, Nate, and Dave, thanks especially for the hints about sharpening the screwdriver blade for scraping and wire-stripping. (Dave, your "great knife, less filling" made me smile and feel old at the same time, reminding me of those original Miller Lite TV ads )

dma1965, those whittling mods are awesome!! I think I've seen you post similar pics in another thread; I've got to see if I can do something like that. Do you do all the regrinding by hand? Also, the almond scales from your very own tree are very cool!

Ryan, the photos you posted look SO much like my knife that I had to check to make sure Captain Smith and his marauding band of Texas Jacks hadn't infiltrated my territory and liberated my new-to-me Camillus

- GT

 

[Rsmith_77]

Ryan, the photos you posted look SO much like my knife that I had to check to make sure Captain Smith and his marauding band of Texas Jacks hadn't infiltrated my territory and liberated my new-to-me Camillus

- GT

I DO have a bit of a reputation for that sort of thing dont i

 

[dma1965]

Thanks for the helpful information, guys. :thumbup:


dma1965, those whittling mods are awesome!! I think I've seen you post similar pics in another thread; I've got to see if I can do something like that. Do you do all the regrinding by hand? Also, the almond scales from your very own tree are very cool!


- GT

I'm glad you like them 5K Qs. I do all the re grinding myself. I shape with a Dremel cutoff wheel first, then a grinding wheel, then a belt sander. Afterward I have to do the final shaping and honing by hand, using a coarse stone, diamond stones, sandpaper, and ceramic. It takes hours per knife because the bevel and edge need to be flat and consistent for whittling.

If I did not intend on whittling, I could do it much faster.

I have a bunch of Camillus TL29s for modding. I also have olive wood and scraps of ebony and other woods, which I will use to make scales.

 

[Old Hunter]

I have several variations of the Camillus Electricians knife (and a few by other makers) - all of mine have carbon springs and blades. The old one (TL-29) in the top photo has smooth black composition handles, same as yours I would think. The later two in the bottom photo (civilian model TL-27) have brown Delrin handles (one textured, one smooth). All of the screwdriver blades are factory edged. You have to love the action on these knives - heavy duty is the best description I have. OH
Ps My Dad brought one back from his Army service in the 1950's - it was like the one in the top photo, but had smooth brown composition handles - long lost I'm afraid.

 

[5K Qs]

Old Hunter, thanks for the photos. I find it interesting that the location of the bail on the TL-29 in your first pic is a lot farther from the end of the knife than it is on most of the examples I've seen.

I'm glad you like them 5K Qs. I do all the re grinding myself. I shape with a Dremel cutoff wheel first, then a grinding wheel, then a belt sander. Afterward I have to do the final shaping and honing by hand, using a coarse stone, diamond stones, sandpaper, and ceramic. It takes hours per knife because the bevel and edge need to be flat and consistent for whittling.

If I did not intend on whittling, I could do it much faster.

I have a bunch of Camillus TL29s for modding. I also have olive wood and scraps of ebony and other woods, which I will use to make scales.

That's an impressive investment of time you put into those blade mods, dma1965, but they sure look good at the end of the process!:thumbup: They must work really well for whittling.

- GT

 

[Markesharp]

Has anyone had experience with the Boker USA made, circa 1978, electricians knife? I have a new one still in the original bubble pack and am tempted to mod it with my other Camillus electricians if its not more valuable left new.

Thanks,

Mark

 

[dma1965]

Has anyone had experience with the Boker USA made, circa 1978, electricians knife? I have a new one still in the original bubble pack and am tempted to mod it with my other Camillus electricians if its not more valuable left new.

Thanks,

Mark

It is a tough call. By far the most common TL29 is Camillus, so I have no qualms about modding them. However Boker is not seen very often at all. Regardless I modded a Schrade Walden, but it was not mint either. If I had a mint Boker I would likely leave it that way. TL29s are not particularly high priced collectibles because so many were made, but that could change.

However, Boker steel is very good, so it would make a good mod if you like.

 

[Old Hunter]

I own one Boker USA Electrician's knife - oddly enough I keep it in my toolbox and use it as (believe it or not) an Electricians knife. In fact I used it this past Sunday while doing some small electrical repair work. My example has Delrin handles (both sides have a small crack on the back spring end at the center pin - the Delrin is very thin there) however, the knife has no other signs of hard use. I would rate it as equivalent in quality of my two Delrin handled Camillus built TL-27 knives (heavy duty action, no play, strong snap). Funny you mention modding a Boker - I've been eyeing this one as a candidate for conversion into a Washington Jack. OH

 

[Markesharp]

It is a tough call. By far the most common TL29 is Camillus, so I have no qualms about modding them. However Boker is not seen very often at all. Regardless I modded a Schrade Walden, but it was not mint either. If I had a mint Boker I would likely leave it that way. TL29s are not particularly high priced collectibles because so many were made, but that could change.

However, Boker steel is very good, so it would make a good mod if you like.

I own one Boker USA Electrician's knife - oddly enough I keep it in my toolbox and use it as (believe it or not) an Electricians knife. In fact I used it this past Sunday while doing some small electrical repair work. My example has Delrin handles (both sides have a small crack on the back spring end at the center pin - the Delrin is very thin there) however, the knife has no other signs of hard use. I would rate it as equivalent in quality of my two Delrin handled Camillus built TL-27 knives (heavy duty action, no play, strong snap). Funny you mention modding a Boker - I've been eyeing this one as a candidate for conversion into a Washington Jack. OH

Thanks for the feedback on the Boker gentlemen. I think I will open it and modify it as they aren't likely collectable.