Electrician's knives. And those that use them.

gentleman_edc said:
I love my tl-29s, but to be honest, I almost never use the screwdriver. So these empire Winstead lockbacks are beautiful, I can't imagine carrying one.

Is there a model number on that shrade. It's really pretty..
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Sorry there’s no model number on this one. The single blade screwdrivers are great for my young boys to get familiar with the mechanism but also be less likely to stab themselves (or each other!) 🤣
 
M. Klein and Sons TL-29 made by Cattagaurus:

9jKlLO6.jpg
 
Adam5 said:
I have never seen the #40 with a cap lifter, and now I must have one :D
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I felt the same way once I learned of their existence. Unfortunately, they seem much less common than the standard TL-29 version. And as far as I know, the caplifter #40 is the only "Radio Knife" that Queen made, and only for a few years.
 
gentleman_edc said:
Is that a screwdriver drop mod? Or is it a factory variant? I like the bail drop as well. That is a pretty knife.

I have been wanting to try to mod mine.
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Go for it... I had this one, a Kutmaster, that came to me with the "shortened" screwdriver blade.....

Kutmaster TL 29.jpg

So, I tore it apart and removed the offending useless screwdriver, and turned it into a "poor mans GEC 15".... it is a very nice sized single blade knife, now.

Kut conv fin mark.jpg

Kut conv fin open 90.jpg
 
Rhinofly said:
Here is a Queen #40 with the caplifter, shown with a Radio Jack. This version of the #40 (the Radio Jack version) was made circa 1972-1975, or something like that. It took me quite a while to find a nice one.

ZhPOXgb.jpg
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HA!! So THAT'S what it's called. I have one of those, but it has no marking numbers on it.... I couldn't find any reference to it in a cursory goober search, but mine has the caplifter as well..... I just assumed it was for a drinking electrician..... after hours, of course..... :rolleyes: 😁
 
I just picked this one up. My first ever Kutmaster and my first ever Electricians knife!

What surprised me the most when I got it was that the bolsters are clearly iron/steel. I think that would make this an older Kutmaster, but I cannot be certain. Brass liners and pins. Beautiful patina all over this thing. Can still easily read the etch on the screwdriver, although some scratching and the glare in this picture make it difficult to see. I can't tell what the wood is. Although it is quite dark bordering on jet black, I'm fairly certain it isn't ebony and is more likely rosewood of some sort that's aged from use.

The fit and finish on this thing is surprising for as cheap as it was for me to purchase. Half stops on both implements. Springs are essentially flush in all positions. Relatively minor gaping on the backspring. Pins are all flush as are the bolster transitions. Walk and talk cleaned up nicely after a flush. Great snap. Probably a 7 pull. Insignificant amount of blade wobble. Liner lock and bail is still functioning well. And, the spear point seems to be quite full!

G3URE7Q.jpg
 
I did have one question which may or may not be appropriate for this thread. I can delete if it is out of place.

I often hear when dating older knives that hammered pins indicate an older age than spun pins. But, most of the time I see this in reference to bone covers.
I have a new Chechen Rosewood 72 lockback, however. And, while two of the pins appear nice and flush, the other two are clearly sunken and spun.

Does the fact that this knife has no spun pins imply that all of them were hammered? I feel understanding this would help me better understand the age of this fine knife. Thanks!!
 
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lithicus said:
I did have one question which may or may not be appropriate for this thread. I can delete if it is out of place.

I often hear when dating older knives that hammered pins indicate an older age than spun pins. But, most of the time I see this in reference to bone covers.
I have a new Chechen Rosewood 72 lockback, however. And, while two of the pins appear nice and flush, the other two are clearly sunken and spun.

Does the fact that this knife has no spun pins imply that all of them were hammered? I feel understanding this would help me better understand the age of this fine knife. Thanks!!
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I could be completely wrong, so someone correct me.... but I think that the "frame" pins are usually left hammered, and the pins that only lock the scales in place get the spun treatment...
I'm pretty sure there are no hard, fast rules, but that's just what I've noticed....
 
christusvictor said:
Does that Kabar have a # or some other way to identify it? I would love to get my hands on one of those!
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Hello, sorry for the late reply. According to the seller, model number is Kabar 1148. The only tang stamp on the knife is KABAR, as visible in the photo. The seller had several available when I bought it a few years ago, but I have not been able to find another photo of a clip version. It does not look like a fake or a mod, but it could be either, or it may be a genuine low-number variant. The screwdriver blade is certainly right for the Kabar version, and is different from the Camillus version by shape, nick placement and by the size and shape of the clearance cutout in the drver blade for the main blade nick.
 
hornetguy said:
HA!! So THAT'S what it's called. I have one of those, but it has no marking numbers on it.... I couldn't find any reference to it in a cursory goober search, but mine has the caplifter as well..... I just assumed it was for a drinking electrician..... after hours, of course..... :rolleyes: 😁
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I finally dug it out and took a few pics of it... mine has a clip blade on it... I wonder if it might be a rebuild? Although, the scales look to be original winterbottom bone, not delrin, and the pins don't appear to have been molested in any way.... 🤷‍♂️

Queen elect open.jpg
Queen elect tang.jpg
 
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