Yea. Another TL-29 question

Arkar

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Nov 1, 2021
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I have several civilian electricians knives in my collection along with a few stamped TL-29 govt issues. I got one yesterday and as I was getting ready to tag it and put away something seemed kind of strange.
It’s an Ulster marked
Ulster
Knife
Co.

I got one of my WW2 era TLs just to compare. Now this one happens to be a Camillus with the 4 line stamp.

What I noticed was. The recently acquired Ulster is smaller. Shorter. Shorter blade. And shorter bolster. Both have fairly full blades. Both have no brass. Even the screwdriver blade lock is steel.

I did a little research and found that these things were used by the Signal Corp as far back as WW1. I also read those were smaller than the WW2 and more modern civilian models.

First was the information I read true? And if not why is this one smaller?
We also have a WW2 Ulster marked Ulster Knife USA. It too is larger.

If I’ve overlooked this in here I apologize.
But I’m curious exactly what I’ve got.
Probably nothing. Lol. But hey I’d like to know.
Thanks in advance.

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very interesting, curious how this would come out. While my post does not directly answer OP’s question, I did do some research and found good info about the TL 29. I recently purchased an electrician knife from an antique store, it is made by Camillus, but has plastic handles and the blades look almost new, so I figured it may have been made in the 70s or 80s, maybe later. I also found an Ulster made one with wood handles, and the TL 29 actually marked in the tang of the master blade. I did not pay attention to closely to notice if it was brass or steel liners and springs. My reading told me that the WW2 versions were steel, as brass was needed for the war effort, and often times marked in the wood handle with the TL 29, easily marked that way for the service and no need for shields. And it was easier to find firms who did not make the model as most firms did make a version of it.
 
Arkar there were two different sizes made; 3 5/8" and 3 3/4". The shorter ones were generally the older ones pre-1930 but there may have been some overlap. Camillus made three different versions depending on the branch and use; brass liners and brass center lock with a shield/ brass liners and steel center lock with a shield/ steel liners and steel center lock, no shield with a stamped "TL-29" handle.

Does your screwdriver have the single cutout near the top of the blade or is there one opposite as well?

Eric
 
Remington made some TL-29s (at 3 1/2") which were shorter than others (at 3 3/4"), and sold the tooling to PAL cutlery, which continued to make shorter TL-29s! I have an early Pal which has a PAL etch, and a Remington tang stamp; probably from 1940, when PAL was using up Remington parts!
Earlier Ulsters were also shorter!
The best reference I have found is Mike Silvey's book,
"U.S.Military Pocket Knives From 1800 to the Present".
He goes extensively into TL-29s, with outstanding photographs!!

Edited to add: And then there's Eric (above) who knows a lot of fine details!! :cool:
 
Some TL-29s; From the top,
>Schrade Walden, post war, with saw blade!
>straight-line Camillus
>Schrade Cut Co.
>PAL (see etch), with Remington tang stamp
>Case Tested XX
>Schrade Cut Co.
Older TL29s 1.jpgOlder TL29s 2.jpg
 
What’s the purpose of the sharpened edge on the screwdriver blade? Is it normally sharpened from the ricasso to the finger grip cutout? . And what’s that cutout called?
 
I received this knife and another like it in 2011 from a Navy Buddie's son who was in the Navy at the time. They were Navy issued.

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Klein 1550-2
Electricians Knife
Mfg. by Utica/Kutmaster
TL-29
Electricians Knife
Blades: Carbon Steel
Handles: Composite
Length Overall: 3 5/8"
Blades:
Spearpoint 2 1/2"
Screwdriver-tip 2 1/2" (Linerlock)
Liners: Brass
Bail
 
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