Vintage Imperial Pocket Knife

kobsw

kobsw

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At the same Garage/Yard sale I found the Hubley cap gun I found this Vintage Imperial Pocket Knife. It's aged but a keeper.

There was writing on the site that said something like

1,000,000 Man Hours
Something I coudn't Read
Phila Naval Ship Yard

I live just outside of Philadelphia and thought maybe it was given to guys who worked on a certain project (Building a Ship)

It meant something to me since my Dad had worked there most of his life. First in the Navy making screws for Nuclear Subs., Second on the Glomar Explorer (of course he didn't know what he was working on and and why there were guys dressed like him that were never dirty, CIA?) and finally for the DOD.

Anyway the print was fragile and rubbed off in my hands so I cleaned it up a little and will enjoy it anyway...

DSC03196.jpg


DSC03197.jpg
 
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g-mac..thx, it's a little hobby i just started. I've lived in my area for most of my life and cant remember seeing so many houses for sale and corresponding garage/yard sales.

Around here there seems to be a number of old garages with at least one vintage pocket knife in it. Now that I have the knack for finding them(I usually ask about cutlery and tools. I also try to get personal with the seller to make a connection). I'm eager for more.

What about you?
 
That may have been a Safety Award given to employees on a crew working so many hours without any injuries or something like that. That's common in heavy industry. Neat find.
 
Not to drift, but I've got an old yellow handled Imperial that my Dad bought for me at a department store when I was four or five, in about 1975 or 1976. It's two blades, one big and one small, that open in the same direction. These old knives worth anything and are they a good knife to keep? I think they are U.S.A. made, so that's a big plus. I wouldn't get rid of it for anything anyway; just curious; I don't know much about them.
 
I used to sell Imperial knives when I worked in a Hardware store in the early '80s! They were a very inexpensive knife, but I probably sold more of them than I did of the Case line.

I don't know if they have any value now or not so I can't help with question.
 
Imperial Knife Co, started in Providence, Rhode Island in C. 1917.

They are highly collectible (for US manufactured knives, age, and condition).

Prices are all over the board--with the vast majority under $50.

Still in business today.
 
Imperial, Ulster, Vulcan, Walden, Schrade, Camillus and Kingston have been partners, bought by, sold to or owned by each other for over 90 years and the relationships were ever changing. One consistency over the years is that one of the Baer family always seems to be involved no matter what the company is called. The Baer's also brought the remnants of some great Sheffield firms and rolled them into the Imperial family. It makes your hair hurt trying to keep track of this so I don't.

Nice knife OP, probably 1950ish. Certainly after WWII due to the patent on the opener. I don't recall ever seeing the vertical USA though.

Bob
 
Andy Griffith said:
Well, kinda...

It became Imperial Schrade.

Schrade went out of business, and now Taylor Cutlery owns the brand and, IIRC, all the knives so branded come out of the far east. :(
Click to expand...

...and I cry everytime I think about it.

I bought a Schrade Uncle Henry Bearpaw in 78-79; it went around the world with me. I eventually wore it out and retired it.

I bought a Buck a few years back for a replacement; if they were still made by the real Schrade, I would have bought another Bearpaw; a lot bigger and heavier than the Buck and of comparible quality.
 
as usual I appreciate all of the information and input...

I will be out this weekend searching the bottom of buckets, boxes and tool boxes this weekend...

Hopefully you guys enjoy these small pieces of Americana from a bygone era.

I've really enjoy finding them, researching/documenting and taking the photos...
 
I've enjoyed this thread,so the thanks are to you.;)

Somewhere around here I have one.Dang,I need to have a yard sale.:D

DG

Oh,I liked the cap gun too.
 
You guys seam to know a lot about this subject. What can you tell me about Colonial knives. I have this one.

Colonial2.jpg


Colonial1.jpg
 
Last edited:
@ LouisianaJoe:

Colonial Cutlery Co., Providence Rhode Island, C. 1926 - Present

Found by a pair of brothers from Frosolone, Italy; town is known for metal work.

Pretty collectible. Stampings include the following: Colonial, Ranger, Colonial, Prov. USA, Old Cutlery, Anvil Brand, Coyote.

I'd throw some flitz on that one, oil, and enjoy.
 
Other than carrying a small Swiss Army Knife, I've never been into the collector aspect of them.

Interestingly, though, I went to a Federal Surplus Equipment outlet that local and state government entities can go and purchase surplus federal property. I went looking for a file cabinet for our office and while there I noticed two 5 gallon buckets full of pocket knives. I asked about them and he said they were knives from the local airport that had been turned in by people trying to get on airplanes with them. Once "caught" with them, they could either go back and put them in their car or surrender them. These were the surrendered ones.

A little sign on the bucket said $2.00 each, and after culling through them I spent fifty bucks on 25 like new CASE pocket knives.
 
Joe, your knife is a premium stock knife style jack. The serpentine handle and jigged bone scales are typical. They're usually like yours, two spring(I'm assuming?) with a main Bowie clip and sheep foot opposite a spey blade. The markings could very well point to early 1930's but also maybe 1960's. The 1930's knives will be better quality than from later years and since you need the knife in hand to make that call it's what you decide it is as far as age. I'm not aware of any way to know for sure on that knife.

Although collectors argue against cleaning up old knives this knife is not amoung those considered collectable so no harm, no foul. It's a very versatile knife and you should use and enjoy the heck out of it. I would.

Bob
 
Faulkner said:
Other than carrying a small Swiss Army Knife, I've never been into the collector aspect of them.

Interestingly, though, I went to a Federal Surplus Equipment outlet that local and state government entities can go and purchase surplus federal property. I went looking for a file cabinet for our office and while there I noticed two 5 gallon buckets full of pocket knives. I asked about them and he said they were knives from the local airport that had been turned in by people trying to get on airplanes with them. Once "caught" with them, they could either go back and put them in their car or surrender them. These were the surrendered ones.

A little sign on the bucket said $2.00 each, and after culling through them I spent fifty bucks on 25 like new CASE pocket knives.
Click to expand...

Wow! like shooting fish in a barrel...Nice score. I'll double your money for one..lol
 
Not sure what this knife is.

Hello,

This is my first time to this forum but I was hoping someone here may have some insight on how to better locate information on this knife.

It was found among the things of a relative while cleaning out her house after her passing. It is not in the best shape, and the logo engraving is barely readable. At first glance I thought it said Imperial, but now upon second look, it appears to say "JMPERIAL" Not sure if that is just a stylized "I" or if this a knock off of an Imperial. Most of my searching has yielded no results.

Any thoughts anyone may have is most appreciated.
 

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