Camillus electrican's knife variations

[zp4ja]

Thanks Smoke!

Not bad for a toolbox knife that has been there for 20 years. I guess I had enough screwdrivers and razor knives in the toolbox that I never used it. Kinda got lost in the shuffle but the outcome is good. Only alittle Blue Magic used after I pulled it out to clean it up.

Thanks for the input. Jerry

[jerryd6818]

Ya know Jerry, after looking at the knife again, I don't remember seeing an electricians knife with the bail hinged that close to the end of the knife. I'll have to drag out my Camillus long line and see if it compares.

[zp4ja]

Hey Jerry,

What did you find out? I picked up a straight line at a garage sale and here is the pic comparison...
What are your thoughts? I agree very close to the knife end but not my forte so I don't know what is expected.
Regards, Jerry

[jerryd6818]

It's embarrassing but I totally forgot about this. I dug out my long line this morning and discovered I have two of them. Good. Now I can get one of them overhauled and modified.

Anyway, the bail on both my knives are as close as the bottom knife in your picture. A closer look at the picture and it appears your top knife is lopsided. The mark side is a skosh shorter than the pile side and since the bail is so close to the end in the first place, that minor difference makes the bail look like it's stuck right out on the end. It's an optical delusion.

[orvet]

Here is a pic I took today showing how the bail placement on the Camillus TL-29 has evolved since the 4 line tang stamp to the last stamp in 2004.

I will explain more later when I have a bit of time..

[jerryd6818]

I see why they moved the bail out to the end. It let them use the end pin to secure the bail to the knife. Smart move. Double duty.

What is wrong with me? I never thought I would find myself in the middle of a discussion concerning the bail placement on an electricians pocket knife.

[orvet]

Jerry, that is the sort of minutia that makes collecting fun and distinguishes the ‘collector’ from the ‘accumulator.’

I will try and get pics of other electricians’ knives that have the bail at the end.
Two I know I have are a Boker & a Case, both probably made by Camillus.

[jerryd6818]

Does that mean I'm a collector now?

I think life was more simple when I was an accumulator. "Oh! Pretty knife. Must have."

[Vit_213]

Is it possible that TE-33 set contained a Camillus TL-29 knife and Utica TL-13 pliers?
What year pliers TL-13 was changed to cutting pliers TL-13A?

[orvet]

Is it possible that TE-33 set contained a Camillus TL-29 knife and Utica TL-13 pliers?

I think that is quite possible. I don't think Camillus made the pliers.

What year pliers TL-13 was changed to cutting pliers TL-13A?

Sorry Vit, but I don't know the answer to that.

[Vit_213]

Thank you, Dale!

[lenny357]

Heres a vid I did a few weeks ago thought this was perfect for this thread

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dSR0RZr ... atUYtLrfpA


Also something I noticed was the Elec knives made after 1988 the ones with the last tang stamp compared to the ones prior to, have less thickness to their back springs

[garddogg56]

GREAT vidio Lenny

[tjmurphy]

Here's an older variation on the CAMILLUS "Radio/Electrician's Knife"

[carrmillus]

........that one doesn't look like any of the others, t. j., i'll be glad to take it off your hands???..................... .........................

[willc]

Not sure if this is the right spot but I have a Camillus 27 but it is only the single spear blade.
The tang stamp is the 1960 variety and handles are wood.

Now I have had many TL-29's over the years but have never seen this.
Was this a normal production piece?
Or is this a modified knife?

I picked it up some months ago and it is a nice slim knife without the screwdriver blade.
Just wondering if anyone had any clue about this.

[Producer]

Very nice willc.

[orvet]

I am not sure Will, hard to tell from just one picture.
I think if it was modified it appears it was some time ago.

I have not seen a Camillus like that from the factory though they did make a radio knife with a single screwdriver blade.

I blew up your picture and I think it was modified.
I don't recall seeing a Camillus TL-29 with a brass rocker pin.
But if anyone has one TJ will!

[tjmurphy]

To start, if it is stamped "27" it is not a TL-29. From what I can tell from the pic, the handles and the blade is mis-matched. The handles are WWII era and the blade is 1960's(?). The TL-29's that I have, very early WWII with brass liners and the later WWII have brass pivot pins and one with the N/S shield has all brass handle pins including the rocker. A mid WWII with all steel construction has all steel pins. I say the pins are brass but they could be nickel-silver with high copper content. For one reason or another (probably operator mal-function) my camera won't take any clear pictures. Soon as I figure it out I will post pics.

[treefarmer]

Let me tell you what I think I have. My info is from posted AAPK comments and pictures.
This is a 4 line Camillus, forerunner to the TL-29 style knives.
S.C. stands for signal Corps, What about the USA, Army or America?
Mfg. dates were 1919-1929.
Didn't realize the screwdriver blade actually has a lock built into it. On the top side of the tang, next to the "run up" there is a small notch that some how engages the back spring and more or less stabilizes the screwdriver when in use.
The "walk & talk" is great on both blades.
Someone has tried to sharpen the blades and put a few scratches on the blades.
The nail nick on the spear point is on the back side of the blade, kinda' awkward feeling.
Cleaned it up with Mothers and a soft rag.
It was really nice to find this one among a bunch of trinkets and junk !
I'm sure there is a lot more info on these knives than what I've found, tell me what I missed .
Treefarmer

[TripleF]

That is gorgeous Philip!

[tjmurphy]

That's a great knife, Phillip. From what I've gathered, everything you've said is correct. The U.S.A. = Army. I have one except that it is the screw-driver blade only. Mine should be about the same vintage or maybe a little later. The pin configuration is different on mine and it is a lock-back.

[TripleF]

The beginning of this thread is massively rich in information regarding this knife, and me adding a pic, probably won't help, but one never knows.....

[carrmillus]

...scott, what's the tang stamp???...are both blades marked??.......

[TripleF]

No sir......just the main blade. Looks to be from 1960
To 1976.