mg357
Absent Comrade
I have a question about electrician's knives. When were they invented?
Question about electrician's knives
- Thread starter mg357
- Start date
Nothing definitive,but probably at the same time as rubber insulation (as they're insulation trimming knives) So early teens?
AManWearingAHat
Well-known member
They've been around at least a hundred years I imagine. I have one of my great uncle's electrician's knife on my bench to this day. I think it dates back to the 50ies
bigwheelzip
Absent Comrade
Earliest I've seen mentioned, Klein Tools marketed two knives they called electricians knives as early as 1904.
Regarding your previous question about the origin of the TL-29, I found an explanation for the "General Revision" labeled issue -B-, which became the pattern for the specification.
From a 2006 knife forum post:
In 1929 the military tested a larger version on the TL-29 called the TL-116. It was the size we know today, prior to this the TL-29 was a much smaller knife. The Signal Corps knife was prone to breakage when being used as a screwdriver if a very tight screw was encountered. The torsional force applied would pop out the pins at the blade pivot end and the knife would spread apart. To fix this a larger pin and load bearing surface was required so the knife was enlarged. This knife in the testing (Made by Schrade) used the older locking system of the typical Signal Corps knife not the liner lock.
It was not adopted, one of the reasons was when gripping the knife hard for a tight screw the user would unknowingly depress the main blade and unlock the screwdriver allowing it to fold on the operators fingers.
A better locking system was required. The next year, 1930 the liner locking system was added and adopted as the new TL-29 Issue B. For some unknown reason they reverted to the old designation of TL-29, but without a revision number like an A1 or A2 as such. It remained and still does through all its revisions the TL-29.
Regarding your previous question about the origin of the TL-29, I found an explanation for the "General Revision" labeled issue -B-, which became the pattern for the specification.
From a 2006 knife forum post:
In 1929 the military tested a larger version on the TL-29 called the TL-116. It was the size we know today, prior to this the TL-29 was a much smaller knife. The Signal Corps knife was prone to breakage when being used as a screwdriver if a very tight screw was encountered. The torsional force applied would pop out the pins at the blade pivot end and the knife would spread apart. To fix this a larger pin and load bearing surface was required so the knife was enlarged. This knife in the testing (Made by Schrade) used the older locking system of the typical Signal Corps knife not the liner lock.
It was not adopted, one of the reasons was when gripping the knife hard for a tight screw the user would unknowingly depress the main blade and unlock the screwdriver allowing it to fold on the operators fingers.
A better locking system was required. The next year, 1930 the liner locking system was added and adopted as the new TL-29 Issue B. For some unknown reason they reverted to the old designation of TL-29, but without a revision number like an A1 or A2 as such. It remained and still does through all its revisions the TL-29.
Last edited:
bigwheelzip
Absent Comrade
Since you've asked a couple of times about these knives, this is the remainder of the history of the design changes, in case your trying to date a TL-29.
From the same 2006 forum thread:
All versions required a lock in the military specifications as was the bail a part of the specs for the military. I have found these knives with wood, bone and plastic handles all with TL-29 markings of some type.
The requirement for the marked shield was dropped on 8/5/42 with the TL-29 being impressed into the wood directly.
All the various specifications were rewritten into one dated 5/25/1945 falling under Army Signal Corps Specification 71-569, it was now standardized.
During the changeover from military to government wide specifications it was redrawn on 5/5/1954 and standardized as the MIL-K-13419 (SigC). At that change among other things they required the impressed TL-29 should be filled with a permanent white filler and varnished on top. This helps to date post war models as being filled with some color, white or gold.
The knife companies (mainly Albert Baer) tried to eliminate the TL-29 along with the Engineers 4 blade, the Navy and AAF flyers 3 blade, the Mountain Troops 5 blade, the Quartermaster Stockman 3 blade and every other type of knife in the military standards. He reasoned with the government they could up production making only one knife pattern. He told them they should standardize on one design, the all steel MIL-K818 that he was producing in the Kingston name at the time for the Marine Corps. At the monthly meeting of the Pocket Knife Industry Advisory Board meetings it was a topic of concern for every member. The Army performed two tests on the all metal knife but the Signal Corps shot it down for the simple lack of a locking screwdriver. Most of the other knives were eliminated at that point for the remainder of WWII but the TL-29 continued in production and still does to this day.
From the same 2006 forum thread:
All versions required a lock in the military specifications as was the bail a part of the specs for the military. I have found these knives with wood, bone and plastic handles all with TL-29 markings of some type.
The requirement for the marked shield was dropped on 8/5/42 with the TL-29 being impressed into the wood directly.
All the various specifications were rewritten into one dated 5/25/1945 falling under Army Signal Corps Specification 71-569, it was now standardized.
During the changeover from military to government wide specifications it was redrawn on 5/5/1954 and standardized as the MIL-K-13419 (SigC). At that change among other things they required the impressed TL-29 should be filled with a permanent white filler and varnished on top. This helps to date post war models as being filled with some color, white or gold.
The knife companies (mainly Albert Baer) tried to eliminate the TL-29 along with the Engineers 4 blade, the Navy and AAF flyers 3 blade, the Mountain Troops 5 blade, the Quartermaster Stockman 3 blade and every other type of knife in the military standards. He reasoned with the government they could up production making only one knife pattern. He told them they should standardize on one design, the all steel MIL-K818 that he was producing in the Kingston name at the time for the Marine Corps. At the monthly meeting of the Pocket Knife Industry Advisory Board meetings it was a topic of concern for every member. The Army performed two tests on the all metal knife but the Signal Corps shot it down for the simple lack of a locking screwdriver. Most of the other knives were eliminated at that point for the remainder of WWII but the TL-29 continued in production and still does to this day.
I have my dads that he carried since late 40s. I just got a new Klien a few months ago, made in Japan. I have a leather belt case that was GI issue that contains Como pliers and electricians knife. I scuffed it in RVN but it might be WW2 or Korean era. I dont remember make on knife. I don't use one much. I carry a cable knife and wire strippers anything else gets the
utility knife treatment. Lowes has replaced Klien with South Wire which is
Chinese junk.
utility knife treatment. Lowes has replaced Klien with South Wire which is
Chinese junk.
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I heard Ben Franklin owned a knife company and discovered electricity to sell electricians knives. LOL!! 
I was actually using one that I own today. 
I was actually using one that I own today. 
Marshwheeling
Well-known member
There are a few of this pattern on my knife shelf. One was represented as a NOS Klein. The fit is so bad I have often wondered iif it isnt a counterfeit. The brown Imperial, a flea-market find, is a pretty nice knife. The two Chinese-made ones are actually the best constructed. The Rough Rider is pretty decent, but my favorite is the Marble’s with orange G10 scales.
Attachments
I probably got more than a dozen new Kliens laying around in tool boxes and drawers. They trickled home from my dads job in power house and mine in the mines. Why would a guy carry one if he was carrying a tool pouch with screw drivers, cable knife and strippers? I have a few older ones made in USA by companies other than Klien that seem to be just as good. Never had a real Marble but a couple years ago bought a new Marbel remake of the small folding hunter and it was $25 worth of Chinese junk.
Looked good but blade steel was equal to a Walmart paring knife.
Looked good but blade steel was equal to a Walmart paring knife.
Marshwheeling
Well-known member
The steel used on current Chinese Marble’s and Rough Riders is some flavor of 440, probably 440A, not the greatest, but adequate for the task, about on a par with Case Tru-Sharp.
gwpercle
Well-known member
My Dad went to work as a lineman for Gulf States Utilities in 1946 and worked there until he retired in 1986 after 40 years....funny thing is he never owned an electricians knife , not one ! I was a knife person from day 1 and would get all my dads worn out knives. I guess with that big utility belt full of tools, wire strippers , pliers , wire cutters ,screw drivers etc... he never felt the need. I sure wish he had bought a few...would look good in my "old Knife" collection...I still have every one he passed down to me and I'm going on 70 .
Gary
steveno
Well-known member
I have an electricians knife made by Colonial with some promotional advertising on it as it was given out to farmers. it seems to be a fairly well made knife but the blades are so tight that a thumb nail won't budge the blades. is there any way to loosen the blades up?
Marshwheeling
Well-known member
The method usually suggested is to leave the blade partially open, say a quarter of the way if the blade has a half stop, and let it sit for a couple of days, or weeks if necessary. Never tried it myself, but never heard anybody say it didn’t work, either.
Flush and oil the joint first, to take the crud out of the equation.
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