Any Hope for an Old Camillus?

[Sulaco]

My dad used to carry an electrician's knife (I think you guys call them 29's or something?). I don't recall the brand, it was one I hadn't heard of before. Well he lost it somewhere along the way and then one day he found the same knife made by Camillus in a ceiling of a building he was working on. He recently gave it to me and wow, it's in pretty rough shape.

Well I say rough, it's fairly clean and doesn't have any cracks in the scales or anything, but the main blade has a metric ton of side to side movement when open. And the liner locking screwdriver blade doesn't look like it was ever used. It locks up so tight, when I open it, I then have to open it a bit more before the lock engages.

I'd love to get this thing fixed up and either give it back to him or keep it to hold on to.

Is there any hope for it? Anyone do this sort of thing? Also, any way to tell how old it is? I can try to get some pics up this week.

 

[edbeau]

The name for the military version is TL29. Tool Linesman number 29. They were made by many companies and the common name is as you said Electrician's Knife. When you get a picture of it post it on the Camillus area http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/forumdisplay.php/695-Camillus-Collector-s-Forum and someone with more knowledge will let you know if anything can be done to it.

 

[Planterz]

TL-29s are very common. Lots were (are) made, and by many companies. If you can't get this Camillus back in shape, finding another won't be hard, and won't break the bank.

You can attempt to tighten up the main blade a couple ways. A common way is to press the pivot with a vice (wrap in leather or thick denim to protect the scales). Or you can whack it a bunch of times with a rubber/plastic mallet, which is what I do. Be sure to alternate sides - whacking only one side can cause the blade(s) to go askew from the center line.

 

[Curtis_Lowe]

Here's a thread with Camillus tang stamps and dates

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php/497708-Camillus-Tang-stamps-and-dates

 

[Sulaco]

I think it would take a lot of whacking to get this wobbly thing back tight. It must've been used to pry on something from as loose as it is.

 

[Sulaco]

According to that post, it's '89 and up manufacture. Thanks for the info!

 

[Sulaco]

 

[ea42]

Sulaco I can fix that up for you if you're willing to cover postage. Won't dis-assemble it but it'll be nice and solid, likely I can do something about that exposed pin too. Shoot me a PM if you're interested.

Eric

 

[waynorth]

Take Eric up on it Sulaco! He's a good cutler!!

 

[Jack Black]

That's a kind offer

 

[Sulaco]

PM incoming, thanks a lot!!