Xcelite electricians knife

1

17pes

Joined
Dec 4, 2011
Messages
260
This is a quick couple of questions: are the current xcelite electricians knives still decent quality? Are they still carbon steel? And are they made here or abroad? My Google-fu and searches seem to be failing at pulling this information up.

My dad gave me an old Camillus one with the Xcelite branding. It's been getting put through the paces of late, and a buddy wants one.
 
I have the same knife and it indeed is a tl-29. I'll post pics when I get home but if they're still made its not by Camillus so they can't be of the same quality.
 
Thanks. It is amazingly hard to find information on the new ones. I know Klein contracted out, but people still like them, and they're still available new in carbon. I was actually kind of shocked at how little information came up in my searches. I guess I can always try the Xcelite 800 number again.
 
Klein Tools sells a TL-29 in many hardware stores I think it is made by Colonial Knife Company or Utica/Kutmaster. Both still offer TL-29s and several other workman's/electrician knives.
I have a Klein with carbon steel.
 
jwolf90 said:
I have the same knife and it indeed is a tl-29. I'll post pics when I get home but if they're still made its not by Camillus so they can't be of the same quality.
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It is possible for two different manufacturers to produce the same design to the same quality.

Don't know who makes the Excelite knives. But we are reasonably certain that Klein knives are currently being made by Utica. Modoc Ed, one of our members whose opinion I very much trust, has one of the new Klein knives. He says the quality is quite good.
 
Thanks for the replies. I'll probably take a stab at the Xcelite, because at this point I just want to know. I had read that Utica was the likely manufacturer of Klein, but it's nice that that seems to be a consensus.

If the Xcelite turns out to be a bust, I'll just throw that in with some other junk tools and order the Klein for my friend.

In either case I'll throw something up here just in case anyone else ever ends up searching for the information. First picture up will probably be the tang stamp.

Thanks for the input.
 






The tang says Colonial Knife Company, Providence, RI. The blade is 440a. I have to say that it's definitely not their finest craftsmanship. The main blade isn't sharp, and the lock on the screwdriver grinds against it. The brass lock is pretty feeble for the amount of grind that happens when you open the blade, however. I'm sure all of that is due to the specs and the profit margins that Apex tools wanted.

That being said, on the Colonial page, they have an electricians knife that is identical in profile made from 440c without the Xcelite branding. It's in the same price range, and I'd be willing to put money down that the fit and finish is on point.

This actually may be the first knife I return. I may try out a Klein next, but I just found a guy selling Camillus ones that are unused for cheap.
 
Sorry I never got pics I thought I had them but I guess I was wrong but if you can get the Camillus ones please do you won't be disappointed especially if they're in good shape . That colonial doesn't look half bad to me.
 
I'm definitely getting one for myself. Probably my buddy, too, since it's always cool to have a new old knife. The one I have is an Xcelite brand Camillus, so I already know what I'm getting with that. Maybe when I get some more funds I'll get a Klein or Utica for comparison. Either will do, since I imagine that it's exactly the same knife, with Utica just changing the markings for Klein.
 
17pes,
Also look around local antique stores or flea markets. There are a lot of vintage TL-29s out there, many in very good shape.
 
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