Could anyone give me more information about this old Imperial

Hashishiin

Hashishiin

Joined
Dec 29, 2021
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So, I wanted to get myself a traditional, US made, not Case, and came across this. It is a pleasure to carry in the watch pocket, the few days I have, and it has sparked interest in multi-blade trads. I would like to know more about it, specifically the handle material, as I hear old stag and horn cracks, I don't know if it is plastic because there are not signs of wear, could it be wood? I know from the stamp that it was made from 56-88 but was wondering if there was deeper knowledge. The steel seems to be a sort of stainless, but which kind? 440A or the more difficult to manage 440C?

Thank you!
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It’s a good little user. But I would not use it to judge all others. Imperial was never a high end knife. Sold from cardboard signs at the checkout. Like lighters are today.

With all due respect to Arathol, it is a shell handle. But not with the thin sheet of celluloid. The ones that are wrapped don't have rivets. I believe those are plastic scales called Stagalon. Held on with rivets.

Worth pointing out there are no pins showing on the bolsters. That is what makes it a shell handle.

It is assembled with tabs, a cost cutting move. Schrade called them Swindon keys. They are difficult to service and do not hold up like a good old fashioned pinned knife would.

If you want the best quality budget American made old school pocket knife. Look at Camillus knives. They did not use any shell handles or keys. AFAIK

In general look at the construction of the knife. Not how pretty it is. Look for pivot pins look for brass liners, avoid celluloid.

Edit for clarification after I had my coffee.
 
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As has been already stated, Imperial knives were very inexpensive shell handle knives. But to me the most important trait that they have is that the blades will take a screaming sharp edge and are very easy to resharpen. The one that you have pictured looks like a fine carry knife to me.
 
eveled said:
It’s a good little user. But I would not use it to judge all others. Imperial was never a high end knife. Sold from cardboard signs at the checkout. Like lighters are today.

With all due respect to Arathol, it is a shell handle. But not with the thin sheet of celluloid. The ones that are wrapped don't have rivets. I believe those are plastic scales called Stagalon. Held on with rivets.

Worth pointing out there are no pins showing on the bolsters. That is what makes it a shell handle.

It is assembled with tabs, a cost cutting move. Schrade called them Swindon keys. They are difficult to service and do not hold up like a good old fashioned pinned knife would.

If you want the best quality budget American made old school pocket knife. Look at Camillus knives. They did not use any shell handles or keys. AFAIK

In general look at the construction of the knife. Not how pretty it is. Look for pivot pins look for brass liners, avoid celluloid.

Edit for clarification after I had my coffee.
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No, I really appreciate the rundown, and I am new to these traditionals. Always looking for an old cheaper Camillus, but this seems like a nice little knock around.
 
It’s a fine little knife. Enjoy it.

Btw. I doubt its blades are stainless. I think they are probably high carbon steel. Keep them dry and oiled or waxed.
 
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Similar Imperial 2 blade jack, note the rivets....
lPJkAla.jpg

and the shell wrap on the handles
1tphi5t.jpg

and the tabs securing the outer shell
Phv1F40.jpg


The Swinden key isn't the tabs. Its a method of construction where the bolsters are secured by a pivot and a tommy pin instead of a pin that passes all the way through.....Schrade knives made after 1961 or so used this method.....
http://collectors-of-schrades-r.us/patents/002977678.pdf

Swinden key benefits?

Does anyone here prefer the swinden key over pivot pins? Are their any benefits to the swinden key? And why did Schrade decide to use them on some models as opposed to pivot pins? I am just getting into the older USA made Schrade knives so please excuse my lack of knowledge on the subject:o
www.bladeforums.com www.bladeforums.com

Original US patent #2037943 which Imperial used as a basis for their shell handle construction
Related Imperial patents that show detail
 
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I stand corrected. I’ve never had any shell handles with the rivets to look closer at. I thought they were plastic slabs. If you say it’s a wrap I believe you. Thank you.
 
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I have a thing about old Imperial jackmaster knives to the point I put together a display from 1981 and even have a bunch of NOS refills. They were inexpensive knives but they do sharpen easily and cut pretty well with those thin blades. That one is carbon steel. The stainless ones from that era will have "stainless" stampings on the blade. I'm not sure if it's 1070/75 or 1095 but they all seem the same performance wise until you get into the era with the Ireland made Imperials which were pretty much all stainless best I can tell and many not marked as such.

Enjoy your knife. They will cut and slice better than many people think who grew up with S30V or other modern high alloy stainless steels. Use some fairly thick grease on the joints but don't over do that. I recommend wax for corrosion resistance as it won't trap dirt and pocket lint . Keep things simple as far as maintenance though . I have some dating back to the 1960's that look rough but in a minute take a wicked edge and cut pretty much whatever I need. Imperials and "The Ideals" ( even cheaper knives) were all my grandfather ever bought and used. I doubt he ever spent more than $2.99 on a pocket knife in his life and it didn't seem to be a problem for him.
 
I have several Imperial and Colonial pocket knives that are 50-60 years old and they still function great and I carry them often. Even though these knives were very inexpensive when produced and maybe considered as disposable knives by some, often selling at $1-$2 range they are still collectable IMO and easy to find. Very easy to sharpen these blades to a razor sharp edge.

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These belonged to my father
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Ebay find
W7YQMSU.jpg
 
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Has been a while since I visited this thread and itbs Imperial is awesome. It's kind of like a budget GEC and honestly feels better than the Case I used to have.

I am not familiar with the age, can anyone clue me in?

My carry today on a leisure day
IMG_20231108_143514625~2.jpg
 
Hashishiin said:
I love it and love mine! Hope to get into more cheap quality US/EU knives from the past once I get my next check! Did just get a sneaky Executive which was discontinued though so... Kinda breaking the rules lol

Beautiful knife though!
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You might want to look at the knives made by the old Colonial knife company of Providence R.I.

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They also sold knives under the ranger brand.
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And the Anvil brand.
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O.B.
 
Old Biker said:
You might want to look at the knives made by the old Colonial knife company of Providence R.I.

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ADCreHc0jxmvN28Rano4MsNpIpLMOi8RWZZSLeLRkWs_M1cv5Yg3wrmwAfbJ1eccXGpnufUROt9n3OMyUioN-BSK_cEi-Miuz7sSVVHe57vnPB8rb4_VerwbqoVokNKyYhw8BJj3jPJ7cuC_WxE8y27HpzbY=w758-h890-s-no


They also sold knives under the ranger brand.
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And the Anvil brand.
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O.B.
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I like those a lot, 1095? Also looking into similar brands that are cheap, American and quality
 
Hashishiin said:
I like those a lot, 1095? Also looking into similar brands that are cheap, American and quality
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I don't know for sure on the steel. From what I have read in some old threads over on the AAPK site, I think 1070 would be a better guess. Either way they get sharp and hold it reasonably well. I think maybe even a little better that the Imperial/Shrade knives. But I have never tried to do any tests to prove that. After my hose was burglarized and I lost a bunch of more expensive knives, I set myself a $20 limit when browsing eBay for knives. So none of those pictured cost more than $20 shipped, Some only half that.

O.B.
 
Old Biker said:
I don't know for sure on the steel. From what I have read in some old threads over on the AAPK site, I think 1070 would be a better guess. Either way they get sharp and hold it reasonably well. I think maybe even a little better that the Imperial/Shrade knives. But I have never tried to do any tests to prove that. After my hose was burglarized and I lost a bunch of more expensive knives, I set myself a $20 limit when browsing eBay for knives. So none of those pictured cost more than $20 shipped, Some only half that.

O.B.
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Sorry about the burglarizing. I was not into knives at the time but I am on my third record collection - one lost in a house fire, one lost to an Ex. Am not crazy about flippers selling limited black metal records like GECs

They do get sharp. I don't want to sully my GEC in my sweaty work pocket, and need to increase my sharpening skills, and this knife has no edge. It is not screaming sharp but I have used a diamond plate to make it slice paper and have a visible edge now on the pen blade. Easy task - though wharncliffes have spoiled me and I get confused towards the curve of the tip

You think like an 800 grit regular water stone would be the best way to go about it? Question open to all. Is a cheap but good little blade in a similar steel to the GEC so I think this could be a good teacher and user knife
 
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