Camillus TL-29 steel?

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Jul 16, 2011
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anyone know what kind of steel was used for the TL-29? just a bit curious as this thing takes and holds an edge like nothing else i have.

Thanks,
Scott.

(also, sorry if this is the wrong place for this.)
 
Vintage might play into it. Some very old ones have been carbon steel, but later versions were stainless. Camillus was known to use 440A for a wide portion of their stainless line, and that's not so bad. It sharpens up easily, and will take a very nice edge.

If you can, you might post a pic of the tang stamp on your TL-29, so the age can be determined.
 
Yup, you can look up the tang stamps too.

Vintage might play into it. Some very old ones have been carbon steel, but later versions were stainless. Camillus was known to use 440A for a wide portion of their stainless line, and that's not so bad. It sharpens up easily, and will take a very nice edge.

If you can, you might post a pic of the tang stamp on your TL-29, so the age can be determined.
 
well i had already figured it was carbon, i'm just curious of what kind.

Nice thing about simple carbon steel, is it's simplicity. Most of them have at least decent carbon content or better (0.8 - 1% or slightly more), which is primarily responsible for edge-holding, along with the heat treat, which is equally important. Aside from the iron and carbon, there's usually not much else to complicate the 'mix', therefore not as much to go 'wrong' in producing good, durable edges on these blades. Most I've seen, either recent or quite old, are predictably reliable. Carbon steel blades are my favorite for learning sharpening, for that reason. Stainless steels can also be good or excellent, but the extra alloying elements (chromium, vanadium, molybdenum, nickel, etc.) introduce a lot more variability in how they turn out. I don't worry as much about knowing the exact type or composition of carbon steel blades, as I do about knowing what's in the many different stainless steels out there, because I have more confidence the carbon steel will still be pretty good, most of the time.
 
The carbon steel Camillus used before they shut down was 0170-6C. Similar to O1, but specifically made for Camillus. I have no idea how far back they used it, or what they used before.
 
I have wondered about this as well. I have a TL-29 in Channelllock blue, carbon steel, but this question could pertain to many old knives.

Is the 'default' carbon steel used in days of yore simply carbon and iron, as simple as that? Even basic 1095 has additional alloys, for example.
 
The carbon steel Camillus used before they shut down was 0170-6C. Similar to O1, but specifically made for Camillus. I have no idea how far back they used it, or what they used before.

That's good to know. Thanks Aaron. :thumbup:

0170-6C composition; similar to O1, Carbon-V (Cold Steel's version, same steel by a different name):

0.95% carbon (edge retention)
0.45 - 0.48% chromium (wear resistance, hardness)
0.19% vanadium (refines grain for added toughness and finer edges, adds wear resistance)
0.03% nickel (adds some toughness)
0.4% manganese (aids grain structure, contributes to hardenability)
0.46% silicon (adds strength)
0.46% copper (helps prevent surface oxidation)
 
I have wondered about this as well. I have a TL-29 in Channelllock blue, carbon steel, but this question could pertain to many old knives.

Is the 'default' carbon steel used in days of yore simply carbon and iron, as simple as that? Even basic 1095 has additional alloys, for example.

There are other elements added in carbon steels, but in very small amounts as compared to stainless steels. Big changes start happening when chromium or vanadium are added in large amounts, such as seen in stainless steels (chromium at/above ~12%) or super-wear-resistant steels (vanadium 1-2% or more, sometimes much more). Those same elements are present in some carbon steels (like Case's CV, but not 1095), and in much smaller amounts, usually much less than 1% each.
 
I'm so glad this topic came up as I've noticed my late 60's early 70's vintage TL-29 also holds an edge very well. I thought I read on here that Camillus also heat treated to a higher Rockwell than some other brands but I'm not sure I'm remembering accurately. I'm definitely going to get a couple more of these in any event.
 
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