Case TL-29

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Strawboss37

Joined
Feb 23, 2015
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I just picked up an older Case version of the TL-29 electrician’s knife with walnut handles. The question I have for someone who would know is if the smaller, screwdriver blade is typically sharpened? Reason I asked is that on this particular knife, that particular blade isn’t sharpened (the main, pear blade is, though. I’ve never had a TL-29 before and would have assumed that blade would be sharpened, but have nothing to compare it to.
 
No. It's a screwdriver, not a blade, so not sharpened. I have seen some old used ones that were modified into sharpened blades, but as far as I know they never came that way.

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I sure appreciate you folks. That answers my question. I’d post a photo but don’t think I can until I join as a full member. Might look into that.
 
Strawboss37 said:
I sure appreciate you folks. That answers my question. I’d post a photo but don’t think I can until I join as a full member. Might look into that.
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Welcome Strawboss37 You can post pics if you use an image hosting site like Imger to upload your images to but membership has it's advantages. BTW the screw driver blade on the TL-29 I once had a very slight edge on it and I was told it was used for stripping the old rubber and cloth insulation without shaving into the copper wire. It was given to me from my first boss so I wouldn't keep asking for his knife Lol but sadly I lost it :(.
 
It's also likely the screwdriver/stripper blade isn't hardened to the same level as the main (spear) blade. It could be 'sharpened', but likely wouldn't hold a fine cutting edge very well at the geometry used on a true cutting edge. The driver/stripper tool is made for twisting, prying, wire-stripping & driving screws, so the emphasis is on greater toughness (usually means 'not as hard', in real terms), instead of fine edge-holding. Not to mention, a hardened & sharpened cutting edge on a wire stripper is more likely to damage the copper/aluminum conductor itself.

I have three such knives from Case, two of them are the standard 12031L pattern (1 blade, and the driver/stripper tool) and the other is the 13031L with the additional hawkbill blade. They're nice knives. One of the 12031Ls is a well-used 1974-vintage knife that's missing the bail and the walnut is somewhat chipped as well, and I've been pocketing & using that one lately. It's still a good workhorse and I'm not worried about blemishing that one. The other two are more or less in pristine condition, still 'shiny' with their original mirror-polished blades.
 
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Obsessed with Edges said:
It's also likely the screwdriver/stripper blade isn't hardened to the same level as the main (spear) blade. It could be 'sharpened', but likely wouldn't hold a fine cutting edge very well at the geometry used on a true cutting edge. The driver/stripper tool is made for twisting, prying, wire-stripping & driving screws, so the emphasis is on greater toughness (usually means 'not as hard', in real terms), instead of fine edge-holding. Not to mention, a hardened & sharpened cutting edge on a wire stripper is more likely to damage the copper/aluminum conductor itself.

I have three such knives from Case, two of them are the standard 12031L pattern (1 blade, and the driver/stripper tool) and the other is the 13031L with the additional hawkbill blade. They're nice knives. One of the 12031Ls is a well-used 1974-vintage knife that's missing the bail and the walnut is somewhat chipped as well, and I've been pocketing & using that one lately. It's still a good workhorse and I'm not worried about blemishing that one. The other two are more or less in pristine condition, still 'shiny' with their original mirror-polished blades.
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I have a Cammilus TL-29 that is a Glennbad mod. The screwdriver blade was modded into a thick sheepfoot that I convexed for heavy use. It is definitely hardened and takes a good durable edge. It appears to be the same steel as the spear blade.--KV
 
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