The Humble TL-29 & Related Patterns

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Blues

Blues

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I know many of you are fans and devotees of the humble (yet historic) TL-29 pattern.

In going through one of my boxes today I came across this Camillus which was issued to me by the federal gov't some years back. (Feel free to post images of yours in this thread.)

orig.jpg


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I had forgotten just how simple and elegant this knife really is. :thumbup::cool:
 
Blues said:
I had forgotten just how simple and elegant this knife really is. :thumbup::cool:
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Sometimes its the simple straight lines that all come together in the right way and end up forming a classic.

While I am sure a lot of you guys know the history etc of the TL-29 what vintage and scale material is yours?

Ken
 
Ken, in my case I actually can't recall when that knife was issued to me and which agency I was serving with at the time. It'd have been sometime between the early 80's and the early 2000's. This one just has simple black synthetic (nylon/plastic?) scales and is stamped Camillus, New York, U.S.A.
 
They are classics!!

Here is a Camillus that belonged to my late father. He served in the Air Force during the Korean War working in communications, and then 20 years for GTE before passing away in 1977.

He used this one a lot at work, and he had it for as long as anyone can remember, but I have not been able to find out if it was issued to him in the service or he picked it up later.

Family-Camillus-TL-29-Dad.jpg


Here is one I picked up a few years ago for myself, another Camillus.
Camillus-27-Electricians.jpg
 
1977 was the year I began working for Uncle Sam, BCCL. (Just a bit of unrelated continuity in the TL-29 legacy.)
 
Although not a TL-29, I hope this will be of interest to followers of this thread. This Wostenholm 'wireless knife' circa 1930 is similar.
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Does anyone know when the earliest version of this pattern first appeared on the scene?
 
I have a couple I've picked up in flea markets and antique stores, and have fallen in love with this pattern.. All seem to be damaged in some way, the best of the bunch having a cracked scale and a bit of a wobbley main blade, but I still carry it from time to time. I'm always on the lookout for them, but they're kind of hard to come by around here. Does anyone know if these are still in production by anyone? I'd like to order a new one if I can get my hands on it.
 
I remember hearing of, or seeing some with the Colonial and/or Klein Tools name in recent years.
 
Can't help with any info Elliott, but for some reason I've been intrigued by those for some time. I never could figure out exactly why though. Because I never could put my finger on it, I never picked one up.

I feel better knowing I wasn't alone in my thoughts :D
 
338375 said:
Can't help with any info Elliott, but for some reason I've been intrigued by those for some time. I never could figure out exactly why though. Because I never could put my finger on it, I never picked one up.

I feel better knowing I wasn't alone in my thoughts :D
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Mike, if I remember correctly, I think our good friend stockman242 is a big fan of this pattern. (I hope I got that right.)
 
I picked this minto plastic scaled one up on the Bay
I think I got it for 7 & change,plus shipping,total like $12
It seemed like it was never going to be sent,by the seller Then it showed & it was in a plastic bag,grease coated ,from the factory,I guess

DSCF1844.jpg


Its mint!
-Vince
 
LG4: "The original TL-29 specification of World War I . . . " (pg. 194); I would assume it started there, or was an evolution of an earlier utility type knife.

I have a Camillus that belonged to my grandfather, our family tradition holds that he carried it WWII, and had it with him when he was in the Army Of Occupation in Japan after the war. Still has really strong snap in both springs.

I've got a question, somewhat off-topic, but related to this pattern: the three blade variation (civilian only, I think) - with spear, hawkbill, and screwdriver blade - were called "janitor's knives". :confused: Does anyone know why?

thx - cpr
 
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Thanks, Chris Don't know why I forgot to check the bible. :eek::p
 
The ones I especially like are the WWI era Signal Corps knives -- sweet knives, slimmer and not as heavily constructed as the later TL-29's, with the screwdriver blade lock being released by pressing down on the main blade. I've got a wide range of variations of this general pattern, including a Challenge Cut Co version that has heavier construction than any TL-29 I've ever seen, but keeps the original TL-29 "blade lock" mechanism. One of the sweetest variations of this pattern was the Remington R4548 equal end electrician's knife - with the main blade and screwdriver pivot at opposite ends and a side lock in the scale for the screwdriver (unfortunately, this is one of the very few that I don't have - really hard to find in non-relic condition, or even in relic condition for that matter). One day soon I'll finally get off a dime and get me a decent scanner to show you folks some of these.
 
orca8589 said:
LG4: "The original TL-29 specification of World War I . . . " (pg. 194); I would assume it started there, or was an evolution of an earlier utility type knife.

I have a Camillus that belonged to my grandfather, our family tradition holds that he carried it WWII, and had it with him when he was in the Army Of Occupation in Japan after the war. Still has really strong snap in both springs.

I've got a question, somewhat off-topic, but related to this pattern: the three blade variation (civilian only, I think) - with spear, hawkbill, and screwdriver blade - were called "janitor's knives". :confused: Does anyone know why?

thx - cpr
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I've never heard it called a "janitor's knife".

Here's mine that I carried when I worked as an electrician about 30 years ago. It wasn't new when I got it.

100_2845.jpg
 
Here is an earlier version by Empire, with an internal lock on the driver, instead of a liner-lock. Below it is a lockback screwdriver/stripper/knifeblade from the same era.
The liner-lock proved more robust, and easier to make.
EmpireElec1.jpg
 
Some great examples here! :thumbup:
 
the tl-29 was also issued to the army signal corp in a combo knife/pliers leather holster rig. pliers are really hard to find in good condition. for you yard sale /flea mkt types the pliers are marked " TL -13A ". paul
 
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