The Humble TL-29 & Related Patterns

[Steve_Holt]

Electrician's knives have always been one of my favorite patterns. I'm not sure why, because I'm scared to death of electricity! I've managed to give about half of mine away. I guess I better start accumulating them again.

Luckily, all of mine have brothers or cousins pictures already posted, since I am a horrible photographer. My favorite is a Cattaraugus similar to the top one shown in post #28.

Now a question: Does anyone have, or ever heard of, a "Red Devil"? I was bidding on one a while back on Ebay, but lost out at the last minute. I've researched a bit online and found no information at all on it. If memory serves, it had the double cut-outs on the screwdriver blade, and I believe it had a blade release (if that's the correct term) instead of a liner lock. I think you push down on the main blade to release the screwdriver blade (or maybe vice versa).

 

[Steve_Holt]

I did some more research and finally found a little info on the Red Devil knife. I'm not sure of the protocol on linking from other forums and sites, so if any of this violates any rules, please let me know and I will edit as necessary.

Found this at AAPK: http://www.allaboutpocketknives.com/knife_forum/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=6676 Showing pics of a Red Devil Electrician's knife (no tang stamp shots) and info on Smith & Hemenway, the company that used the Red Devil mark. It seems their electrician knives may have also been made by Utica.

Apparently, Smith & Hemenway were primarily tool makers: http://home.comcast.net/~alloy-artifacts/other-makers-p3.html#smith-hemenway

They are still in business as Red Devil, but no longer sell any pocket knives: http://www.reddevil.com/history.cfm

And I also stumbled across this, which may be of interest to folks that own a Klein electrician knife, which seem to be fairly common: http://books.google.com/books?id=oCoDAAAAMBAJ&lpg=PA108&ots=YgTJoWpbXa&dq=smith%20%26%20hemenway%20electrician%20knife&pg=PA108#v=onepage&q=&f=false

 

[jackknife]

You know what has struck me on this thread?

In all these photo's of old TL-29's, they may be worn, maybe a little pitted, but they are all there. No rusted away blades. Just well worn old carbon steel that gave somebody a lifetime of service. Like the one my old Uncle Charlie carried from a Beach in France to Germany, and on untill his passing at age 83.

The old stuff did get it done!:thumbup:

 

[ea42]

Great info Steve!!

Here's a shot of an old Ulster I just got, snapped the pic about ten minutes after I opened the box I'm now in the process of cleaning about ten pounds of lint out from between the liners

Note the off center bail, first TL-29 I've seen with this feature.

[/IMG]

Eric

 

[Perfessr]

I have recently gotten a total of 6 of these on the bay and given them out to my son, 2 sons in law and my youngest daughter. I kept a plain Camillus and a wood handled Camillus to go with my Post Vietnam era TL set with the knife, pliers and sheath.

 

[Absintheur]

I recently picked this one up....Colonial...

 

[indian4]

I've got four in this pattern. The first two were gifted (dumped off) on me as a kid, the other two are family pieces.

First, a Kutmaster

Then a Camillus with Channel lock branding etched on the blade

Next up is relatively old Utica. It has the nicest walk and talk of the bunch. I'm not sure what somebody has been using to sharpen the blade, but it's got a little recurve action going on. The scales are very dark, but they are in fact wood. It's bail has been lost to posterity.

Last is a single blade Sheffield. I haven't a clue how old it is, but it's old. It hasn't been used in decades, but it just shaved some hair off of my arm.

 

[fast14riot]

I know this is an old thread but I thought it better to bring this one back rather than start a new one...

I am surprised I haven't seen any others in this thread, but mine is a Boker USA of unknown age but at least 30years old I think. It belonged to my grandfather but don't know when he aquired it. Amber saw cut bone scales, brass liners. STRONG snap, with nice pull. Strong half stop as well.

This is the only pictures I have available at the moment, maybe tonight I can take some more.


-Xander

 

[sodak]

Here's my Dad's. Omaha Beach, Normandy, as a Combat Engineer, and the rest of WW2 in Europe. Many years later, it doesn't look too bad, although I need to clean it up.

http://i137.photobucket.com/albums/q203/sodak_photos/inventory/p1000111.jpg

 

[TLARbb]

Elliott, I can't believe I missed seeing this thread. I had the good fortune to pick up two of them (Camillus, one a Camco) recently. I remember them from my first decade of working in manufacturing as most all of the electricians had one, even if they had other knives.

I looked in my photobucket account, but couldn't find any pictures of the ones I have, but they are a fairly hefty and classic traditional pocketknife. Thanks for the thread. Maybe, if the weather permits, I can get a photo tomorrow of them.

I saw Klein Tools mentioned up above and they are showing two TL-29 types in their current catalog, one with a spear and one with a "sheepsfoot" (has a slight hawkbill at the tip). I didn't see any information on who was building them though.

Ed

 

[LKJW]

For some reason, I just love this pattern. Here's three I will never part with. Had four but gave one to a good friend for a solid he did me. It was probably the nicest, but that's how I roll. (Plus, the amount of work this man has done on my Motorcycle is obscene).

I agree with what others have said. The simple man's "multi-tool".

LKJW

 

[300Bucks]

Since someone pulled this back yesterday, I thru down another photo.........300Bucks/ch

L to R: Two Schrade Waldens without loops; old (maybe first model) Camillus Cutlery, Camillus, NY with riveted shield on wood scale; plastic scaled Camillus with TL-29 hot stamped in scale; Colonial, NY with black sawcut scales (Delrin) and a JM Klein & Sons with the J stamped on top.

 

[hank_rearden]

my father had that and i didn't think much of it at the time. while in highschool i passed up buying one and opted for the marine stainless pocket knife (also by camillus.) the stainless broke its spring within a year. now i regret the decision.