The Radio, Electrician, and Lineman's Knife

N0gLTDt.jpg
 
Just to add a bit of history detail to this thread, here is the TL-29 knife blueprint. As stated on U.S. Militaria Forum:
The requirement for the marked shield was dropped on 8/5/42 with the TL-29 being impressed into the wood directly. All the various specifications were rewritten into one dated 5/25/1945 falling under Army Signal Corps Specification 71-569, it was now standardized. During the changeover from military to government wide specifications it was redrawn on 5/5/1954 and standardized as the MIL-K-13419 (SigC). At that change among other things they required the impressed TL-29 should be filled with a permanent white filler and varnished on top. This helps to date post war models as being filled with some color, white or gold.
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NCxlwqB.jpg
 
ea42 said:
Charlie, I'm 99% sure that knife is a Schrade Cut Co. knife. The jigging is dead on, and Buffalo Cut Co bought a lot of Schrade seconds and restamped them with their name. Seconds back then sure must have been different from today since you often can't find anything wrong with them except for a variance in blade finish. That finish on your knife might be Buffalo original, or close to it. You can see the similar jigging style on these jacks:
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View attachment 775237

Great looking knife, don't think I've seen a bone one with that lock, just cocobolo.

Nearly forgot, I need to post a TL-29 to stay on the subject lol!
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Eric
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Amazing, Eric - Nice knives, and I certainly see the similarity in the bone. I wonder if the Challenge was a Schrade on contract??? Stranger things have happened!
So what about the blade-press release?? Doesn't it seem out of "time/era" on that handle pattern??
 
waynorth said:
Empire made electrician's knives in one and two blade configurations. The screwdriver lock was released by squeezing the main blade. They made these knives with other tang stamps/brands as well.
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waynorth said:
Schrade Cut Co called this a Radio knife, with that big screwdriver.
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waynorth said:
Here is an older-style Schrade Cut Electrician's knife, undoubtedly made by Empire.
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waynorth said:
Ken Erickson made this one, inspired by the Empire single blade Electricians knife!
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Charlie, man o man, what beautiful examples for us the behold....wow!!! Thank you Sir !

And all the fine gentleman that I have yet to thank....Thank You !!! I am going to savor your contributions when I have more time :D:thumbsup::thumbsup:
 
waynorth said:
Amazing, Eric - Nice knives, and I certainly see the similarity in the bone. I wonder if the Challenge was a Schrade on contract??? Stranger things have happened!
So what about the blade-press release?? Doesn't it seem out of "time/era" on that handle pattern??
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Charlie, definitely not out of time/era, here's that very knife in the Schrade Cut Co catalog supplementary pages from 1928. They refer to the lock as a lockback, which in effect it was:

Schrade Cut Co TL-29 Catalog Image.jpg

Of course just because it turns up in the catalog in '28 doesn't mean it was only offered from that point on. It's very likely it was available quite some time beforehand. Schrade wasn't all that astute with catalog entries, they relied more on salesmen for most of their existence.

I don't think the Challenge was a Schrade contract, although like you said stranger things have happened. The thing to remember about Challenge is that George Schrade was involved in the company from at least 1920. He was the inventor of the jigging machine, so you're going to see real similarities in that standard jigging pattern when comparing Schrades and Challenges. No one else it seems mimicked the Schrade peachseed pattern though. They must have had a lock on the cutters for that pattern, or possibly their profile was modified. You've got an amazingly varied collection of gems amigo!!!

Eric
 
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Thanks for the intrepid research, Eric! You always come up with great information! I wish I had your memory for history!
 
Always a pleasure Charlie! Believe me, my memory isn't anywhere near as good as you think LOL!

By the way, I forgot (see??) to post this up with the Ulster knife I added the other night:

Ulster TL-29 sticker150 copy.jpg

Here's the picture again for comparison, the knife in the photo dates just a bit later than the one in the drawing:

Ulster TL-29.jpg

Eric
 
Here's the picture again for comparison, the knife in the photo dates just a bit later than the one in the drawing:

View attachment 775834

Eric[/QUOTE]

I have been meaning to ask this question but didn't know where but now seems to be a good time with all the knowledge that is here, is that actually a hand done drawing? Along with all the other catalogs that have pictures/drawings of knives in them? If so it just amazes me at the talent that was available.
 
Sorry Lostball, are you talking about the blueprint? If so I would hazard a guess at yes, they generally are, at least in my limited experience. I enjoy the fact that they give min. and max. measurements.
Thanks , Neal
 
The Catalog cut of the Ulster is hand-drawn also. Eric, it looks like the TL-29 stamped knife has a push-left liner lock, but the Ulster Drawing seems to represent a press-the-blade unlock. Am I off base? Would this affect the dates?
 
Hi Neal, I was referring to the catalog picture. Bobbybird posted several days a Simmons KeenKutter catalog full of drawings I assumed but was not sure if they were actually hand drawn or there was possibly another process for that.
neal70 said:
Sorry Lostball, are you talking about the blueprint? If so I would hazard a guess at yes, they generally are, at least in my limited experience. I enjoy the fact that they give min. and max. measurements.
Thanks , Neal
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Gotta figure someone sketched something at that point in history, but that's a good question. Sorry I misunderstood!:rolleyes::D
Thanks, Neal
 
ea42 said:
Charlie, definitely not out of time/era, here's that very knife in the Schrade Cut Co catalog supplementary pages from 1928. They refer to the lock as a lockback, which in effect it was:

View attachment 775690

Of course just because it turns up in the catalog in '28 doesn't mean it was only offered from that point on. It's very likely it was available quite some time beforehand. Schrade wasn't all that astute with catalog entries, they relied more on salesmen for most of their existence.

I don't think the Challenge was a Schrade contract, although like you said stranger things have happened. The thing to remember about Challenge is that George Schrade was involved in the company from at least 1920. He was the inventor of the jigging machine, so you're going to see real similarities in that standard jigging pattern when comparing Schrades and Challenges. No one else it seems mimicked the Schrade peachseed pattern though. They must have had a lock on the cutters for that pattern, or possibly their profile was modified. You've got an amazingly varied collection of gems amigo!!!

Eric
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Thank you for all your wonderful input, Eric!! Great stuff. :cool::thumbsup:
 
waynorth said:
The Catalog cut of the Ulster is hand-drawn also. Eric, it looks like the TL-29 stamped knife has a push-left liner lock, but the Ulster Drawing seems to represent a press-the-blade unlock. Am I off base? Would this affect the dates?
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Charlie, the drawing actually shows the liner lock too, it's the black shadow behind the screwdriver blade tang. It also peeks out ahead of the tang as well. Think they forgot to detail it hehe.

Great knife Deltaboy, that's a classic! Lots of folks modifying that one nowadays.

Eric
 
Jake wanted to let you know it showed up! Wife not impressed, but what's new? I'll post up once I figure out what I'll do to it.;):D
Thanks, Neal
 
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