Let's See Your (Traditional) Hammer Brand!

[afishhunter]

Let's see your traditional Hammer Brand knife!

Any Year from Pre 1900 and Pre WW2/Depression era NYKC Hammer Brand, After Imperial Bought bought NYKC in the '30's, to Imperial-Schrade's 2004 bankruptcy, and the Post 2004 Taylor Schrade versions!
Any model (so long as it is a Traditional), Folding or fixed blades, and with the Mod's approval, the Hammer Brand Auto's/Switchblades are welcome, too. (We just don't want this thread to degenerate into a auto/switchblade thread, that belongs over in that sub-forum.)

My only Hammer Brand (so far) is this 4 blade Taylor-Schrade Gunboat Canoe whittler, with red jigged bone covers, from around 2013 or 2014.
Blades are 440A.
I should probably carry it more often.
View attachment 1656709

View attachment 1656710

 

[screened porch]

I have quite a few, mostly folders.
I think you can just about see HAMMER on the tang in this one.

Same knife, less laborious angle.

 

[hornetguy]

This old one showed up in my collection of inexpensive older knives.... it actually took a pretty good edge. It's very likely made by Imperial, with hollow bolsters, etc. I think the 'cracked ice' handles are hollow, as well, according to the patent drawing.

 

[Old Hunter]

A Hammer Cap-lifter Jack I picked up years ago and gifted to a buddy years ago. OH

 

[Old Hunter]

How about a 50/50 or a Half n' Half? Hammer Brand Barlow on the main blade and Imperial on the pen blade. OH

 

[Rhinofly]

Here is an equal end Hammer caplifter jack I recently picked up for $15. It has the 1945-1955 tang stamp. This knife surprised me when it arrived, being quite a bit bigger than I was expecting; I love it. The last photo shows it next to an Imperial slim scout from the 1930's. I find that I enjoy carrying these knives, and the fact that the later-manufactured knives have shell construction does not bother me one bit. The earlier solid-bolster built knives are starting to get pricey for good ones, but the shell-constructed knives are still fairly inexpensive.

 

[Rhinofly]

This old one showed up in my collection of inexpensive older knives.... it actually took a pretty good edge. It's very likely made by Imperial, with hollow bolsters, etc. I think the 'cracked ice' handles are hollow, as well, according to the patent drawing.

A Hammer Cap-lifter Jack I picked up years ago and gifted to a buddy years ago. OH

Both of these knives look like they are in really good shape under the rust and would clean up nicely.

 

[hornetguy]

Here is an equal end Hammer caplifter jack I recently picked up for $15. It has the 1945-1955 tang stamp. This knife surprised me when it arrived, being quite a bit bigger than I was expecting; I love it. The last photo shows it next to an Imperial slim scout from the 1930's. I find that I enjoy carrying these knives, and the fact that the later-manufactured knives have shell construction does not bother me one bit. The earlier solid-bolster built knives are starting to get pricey for good ones, but the shell-constructed knives are still fairly inexpensive.

I don't have a chart to go by to figure out when they were made... I was guessing mine was in the 60's sometime, but that's just a guess.

 

[Rhinofly]

I don't have a chart to go by to figure out when they were made... I was guessing mine was in the 60's sometime, but that's just a guess.

Check out this tang-stamp chart for Imperial; there are Hammer stamps in there as well.

 

[hornetguy]

Check out this tang-stamp chart for Imperial, there are Hammer stamps in there as well.

wow.... if that's official, then mine could very well be from the 38-41 era.... I don't see any "USA" .... just the Hammer Brand with the arm and hammer in it. I'll have to clean it up a bit to make sure. Either way, it's likely quite a bit older than I am... and that's pretty old....

 

[Just Tom.]

I have these 2 with the arm and hammer logo on the handles, but the Imperial stamp on the tangs.

The green jack would have originally had a handle wrap like the black stockman - I had one just like it for years and used it until it finally just fell into pieces maybe ten years ago. I suspect the pins corroded from being exposed to salt water when fishing 35-plus years ago.

 

[Rhinofly]

wow.... if that's official, then mine could very well be from the 38-41 era.... I don't see any "USA" .... just the Hammer Brand with the arm and hammer in it. I'll have to clean it up a bit to make sure. Either way, it's likely quite a bit older than I am... and that's pretty old....

To my eye it looks as if your knife has the earlier stamp, the 1936-1937 stamp. From what I understand, Imperial began shell construction around 1935, so your knife would not be inconsistent with that date.

 

[hornetguy]

To my eye it looks as if your knife has the earlier stamp, the 1936-1937 stamp. From what I understand, Imperial began shell construction around 1935, so your knife would not be inconsistent with that date.

I cleaned it up some, and to me, it looks like the 38-41 stamp... somehow the wrist/hand area looks different from the earlier one.... Still.... this is a much older knife than I had originally thought.

 

[hornetguy]

I have these 2 with the arm and hammer logo on the handles, but the Imperial stamp on the tangs.

The green jack would have originally had a handle wrap like the black stockman - I had one just like it for years and used it until it finally just fell into pieces maybe ten years ago. I suspect the pins corroded from being exposed to salt water when fishing 35-plus years ago.

I like that those blades have the stamping (hammer forged?) like the Old Hickory kitchen knives... these old knives are starting to grow on me....

 

[afishhunter]

To my eye it looks as if your knife has the earlier stamp, the 1936-1937 stamp. From what I understand, Imperial began shell construction around 1935, so your knife would not be inconsistent with that date.

Yep. Imperial bought NYKC and Hammer Brand around that time, too.
The earlier NYKC made knives didn't have shell construction.

I cleaned it up some, and to me, it looks like the 38-41 stamp... somehow the wrist/hand area looks different from the earlier one.... Still.... this is a much older knife than I had originally thought.

'36/37 stamp. Note the biceps. On the later 2 stamps the rolled up sleeve has a line. '36/37 stamp and your stamp is lineless.

 

[Rhinofly]

'36/37 stamp. Note the biceps. On the later 2 stamps the rolled up sleeve has a line. '36/37 stamp and your stamp is lineless.

Agreed. No Popeye forearm, the rolled up sleeve extends past the "R" in brand.

 

[redsparrow]

Hammer Brand c1955

 

[rockman0]

 

[Vaporstang]

A '45 - '55 Hammer Brand Toothpick that I had modified by member jprime84 .

Original seller's pictures:

Modified (my pics):

 

[Markeologist]

Mint cracked ice fisherman’s knife that was a 1948 safety award for General Mills as indicated on covers and leather sheath.