TL-29 Electricians Knives

[orvet]

I stumbled across a brand of TL-29 on ebay that I did not existed!
I am reasonably certain it was made for the consumer (civilian) market like Sears, Powr Craft, Proto, ect., and not for the military.

The tang stamp reads: HOFFRITZ/NEW YORK.
It has an interesting rear tang stamp in the spear blade: RITZ/BRAND in an inverted trapezoid frame.

The nice rosewood handles and the bowtie shield makes it one of the more attractive looking production electrician’s knives made. IMHO.

Another unusual feature is that both blades are tang stamped on the mark side, which makes me think it was probably made prior to WW II.

[knife7knut]

Nice one Dale! I think it may have been made by Camillus as Hoffritz was basically a wholesale/import house according to BRL from about 1930 onward.I have several knives marked as such and they vary greatly in quality.Here is a picture of a 4 line Camillus from a military tool kit.Note the similarities.

[orvet]

It is similar, but no lanyard loop.
Camillus probably made more TL-29 for other companies than all the other knife companies put together.

[Simple Man]

Got a Robeson TL-29 in today, real nice knife, typical heavy springs of a TL.

[orvet]

Nice one.
I got an unstamped jack at the OKCA show that everyone says shouts Robeson and the Heavy Duty Spring.
Sure makes you set up and take notice.

[Simple Man]

This one took a SCREAMING edge with little effort.

[Capt. Farrel]

Another Case for my Sparky accumulation came yesterday. I have just written that I don´t like Hawkbills and minutes later I own this electricians knife! Well, who can say no to a nice Case Sparky? Definitely not me.....

[philco]

Frank most folks wouldn't understand but.........we do.

[Capt. Farrel]

Phil, I feel all warm and cosy when I am with you guys!

[RobesonsRme.com]

Probably the best M. Klein electrician's knife I've ever seen.

One of you guys should own this knife.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/VINTAGE-M-KLEIN ... 3f376dae7c

Is it or is it not marked, "Cattaraugus"?

That pattern number 21087 is consistent with Catt.

CNoyes

[tjmurphy]

VERY nice knife. It is marked Cattaraugus Got it on my watch list. Thanks for posting that Charlie

[tjmurphy]

The knife has been sold

[orvet]

Did you get it TJ?

[tjmurphy]

Yeppers I did, Dale. Made him an offer he couldn't refuse.

[tjmurphy]

Hey Dale, ya got a PM!!

[Mumbleypeg]

I was at a local antique mall this morning and found this old TL-29 pattern knife. Both blades marked WILBERT CUTLERY, which I don't recall seeing previously on this thread. Thought you folks might like to see it so took a picture. Looks like the master and maybe both blades have been broken off and re-shaped. Has half-stops and great walk and talk on both blades. Very nice undamaged jigged bone scales. The asking price seemed high for my taste but since I don't collect these TL-29s or know a lot about them maybe it's worth more than I think. Made an offer just cuz of the nice bone scales but we couldn't get together on price, so had to leave it there.

Goins says Wilbert Cutlery Co. was a trademark used by Sears, Roebuck and Co. Between 1908 - 1922.

Any ideas as to who made this for Sears, and its value?

Ken

Edit: same guy had another TL-29 that had very unusual stamping. Mark side of master had only 4 horizontal lines running across the tang, perpendicular to the length of the blade. On the pile side tang was marked RPPC JAPAN along with same type of horizontal lines. Screwdriver blade was unmarked. Anyone know anything about this one? Should have taken a picture but didn't - sorry.

[tjmurphy]

WOW!! Wonderful knife. Radio/electrician knife. I like that one a lot

[tjmurphy]

Here's one that I picked off Ebay last evening. Schrade Radio/Electrician's knife, c. 1917-1946.

[edge213]

Where does the TL-29 designation come from?

[tjmurphy]

On the knife I just posted, probably no where. TL-29 is a military designation for TOOL-LINESMAN. The 29 ???

[danno50]

Another very nice knife, TJ. Different shield.
Dan

[Mumbleypeg]

Where does the TL-29 designation come from?

TL stands for Tool for Linemen, as tjmurphy said. According to Levine's Guide to Knives these were originally manufactured for the U.S. Government under contract per military specification TL-29 (curious about what TL-1 through 28 were? ) for use by radio men. They were made for US Army, US Navy, and USMC. Levine's says over a quarter million of these were made for the government in 1917-18 alone, and "many more" for commercial sale. In general the military versions were apparently marked with the TL-29 designation whereas commercial versions were not marked as such and sold as "electrician's knives". M. Klein & Sons electrical supply Co. of Chicago was a major supplier of these commercial electricians knives and had them made under contract from several manufacturers.

Ken

[danno50]

Mumbleypeg, nice knife, not many bone handled electricians knives posted. If you look at the Napanoch entry in Goins, he says that Napanoch made the Wilbert Cutlery Co. knives for Sears, Roebuck and Company.
Dan

[Mumbleypeg]

Mumbleypeg, nice knife, not many bone handled electricians knives posted. If you look at the Napanoch entry in Goins, he says that Napanoch made the Wilbert Cutlery Co. knives for Sears, Roebuck and Company.
Dan

Thanks Dan. Maybe I should go back and see if he still has it. He was asking $75 for it, got him down to $60 but left it there as not knowing much about the value on these, I wasn't willing to pay that. He wanted $40 for the one marked RPPC Japan, which I still haven't been able to find any info about.

Ken

[tjmurphy]

Where does the TL-29 designation come from?

TL stands for Tool for Linemen, as tjmurphy said. According to Levine's Guide to Knives these were originally manufactured for the U.S. Government under contract per military specification TL-29 (curious about what TL-1 through 28 were? ) for use by radio men. They were made for US Army, US Navy, and USMC. Levine's says over a quarter million of these were made for the government in 1917-18 alone, and "many more" for commercial sale. In general the military versions were apparently marked with the TL-29 designation whereas commercial versions were not marked as such and sold as "electrician's knives". M. Klein & Sons electrical supply Co. of Chicago was a major supplier of these commercial electricians knives and had them made under contract from several manufacturers.

Ken

Well, here's a TL-13A: