kleins - chacago, u.s.a.

jonet143 · Post by **jonet143** » Thu Apr 12, 2007 10:23 am

who made knives for m. klein and son? more than one manufacturer?

Gr8Scout · Post by **Gr8Scout** » Mon Apr 16, 2007 12:38 pm

As an electrician, I work daily with Klein tools. Most of the older knives I have seen were made by Camillus. The Camillus model 1 pruner was a staple in the Klein catalog for years.

Phil

nmikash · Post by **nmikash** » Wed Apr 18, 2007 5:44 am

I have a couple of the newer Klein knives made in Japan and they are very good quality knives. Nice fit and finish and they take a great edge. I had a very used lockback that had a backspring break and they replaced it no questions asked.
Nick

jonet143 · Post by **jonet143** » Wed Apr 18, 2007 6:25 am

thanks phil.

hey nick, i have never seen a new one.

nmikash · Post by **nmikash** » Thu Apr 19, 2007 9:29 am

Here's a bad picture of my newer Klein's for you Johnnie. I like the coffin shaped handles. The big one has a pocket clip and makes it into my EDC rotation frequently. All 3 are pretty nice knives.

Nick

jonet143 · Post by **jonet143** » Thu Apr 19, 2007 9:53 am

not just utility knives anymore, eh? cool, thanks for the pics, nick

orvet · Post by **orvet** » Thu Apr 19, 2007 8:56 pm

I think most of the Klein's I have, appear to have been made by Camillus. I have what appears to be two different tang stamps: M. Klein & Sons and Klein Tools.

Goins gives their dates as 1857 to present. They are a tool company. He says that most of their knives are electrician patterns, which they first started selling around 1911. Goins' also says that various makers made their knives.

I have several Klein rope knives, which look very much like examples I have from Ulster & Camillus. I suppose both companies may have made the knives for Klein at one time or another. I also have several of the TL-29 pattern that I would have to say look most like Camillus, though there could be some made by Schrade. I really haven't examined them that closely. (I guess I need to do that)

Here are some pics from my Klein collection:

Dale