TL-29 question.

T

TheDoggyGuru

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Hey guys, I have a question for ya. Does anyone here still carry and use a TL-29 electricians knife? I know they were popular in the 50s and 60s.... probably even 70s. However, does anyone still regularly use one? I have three of them, one that looks like it can be saved and used. Are these guys any good? Mine is a Camillus, carbon steel one. It LOOKS like it would be a tough little guy, bu I'm not sure. Any feedback?
 
When I was in the army, we were a combat engineer unit, and our supply room stocked the all steel scout knife, and the TL-29. Both were handed out like lollypops at the dentist office. Young guys being young guys, and the knives being freebies, they got ABUSED in a big way. Please note I used all caps for ABUSED!

The steel used for the Camillus TL-29 was a very good carbon steel that took and held a very good edge. The only bad thing was the knife had a screw driver blade. Not a bad thing in itself, but a freebie knife with a screwdriver blade used by young GI's is that if there was not a crowbar around, then the knife became a prybar. As a result, most of the TL-29's I've seen were very loose in the joint from being pried with.

All that aside, yes they are worth saving if you have one in good condition. The blades are good,and the screw driver blade has a semi sharpend bevel for stripping wire that can be used for a second cutting blade that wll save your main blade on real dirty cutting chores. Also if memory serves me right, (at my age thats becoming debatable) the screwdriver blade has a brass liner lock. If it has wood handles its real old, maybe WW2 era. Synthetic came in afterward.

Some people have collections of TL-29's.
 
I've got one that I was issued from the gov't back when but have never carried it. Good little knife though.
 
I have two of them. One is in great shape, the other not so much. Same with me as Blues, never carried them. I think Oupa carries one for an EDC, that he modified.
 
I carry a "slightly" modified one every day.

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I work as an electronics tech (Airways Transportation Systems Specialist) for the FAA. Some of our kits still come with the TL 29. I have one that I keep real sharp and use it with a small anvil to cut coax. I place the blade on the coax and strike it with a mallet..Cuts very clean without smashing the dielectric insulation. I carried one at all times when I was in the Air Force..Would love to have that knife back..I lost it in one of my moves after I got out..Probably still in a box in the attic??

R
 
I have quite a few TL-29 pattern knives. Most are older Camillus / Camco, but i have a Kutmaster, Boker and A colonial or two also. All of them are rugged knives with good carbon steel that take decent edges. I EDC a Camillus one every day during the work week. They carry about the same as a scout knife in the pocket, so not to bulky. The TL-29 is one of my all time favorite patterns. Joe
 
While I don't own a TL-29, it should be a useful everyday knife to carry. When I decided to go in a different direction about 1983, I went into aircraft maintenance. On the first full time job I held in that field I worked under a fellow who swore by his TL-29 and carried it at all times in an open belt sheath somebody had stitched up out of some nylon parachute harness webbing. He liked to point out that his TL-29 and his leather flight jacket (he said it was goatskin) were ISSUED to him whenever somebody would ask him where he got either of them. :D He was proud of that!
 
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