Brian.Evans
Registered Member
- Joined
- Aug 20, 2011
- Messages
- 3,267
Found this little gem at a flea market last weekend for $3. He wanted $5, but I talked him down because "it's awfully rusty......" 
Mark shows to be a Hammer Brand, 1938-41. It's in fairly good shape for the age. It has been used, but not abused.
Looking closely through the patina, I can see it was obviously sharpened on a stone, not a grinder. The secondary/sharpening bevel widens as it comes to the point, indicative of sweeping the tip down and not raising the butt at the end of the sharpening stroke. I do that on my own knives, because I like a thin tip that is mostly secondary bevel. I'd never sharpen a customer's knife that way, but I like it on mine.
It hasn't been sharpened equally plunge to tip, but at least it doesn't have a recurve. I think the knife was used well.
The handle scales are pulling off slightly, but they are still tight on the tang with the rivets, with no discernible wiggle.
All in all, I'd love to see a catalog page or an example of this knife as it was new. It looks like a pretty handy size.
I put it to a stone for a few licks when I got home. It seems that the steel is fairly hard. Like most Imperials of that era, I assume it will take a keen edge.
Part of me wants to use it like it is, another part of me wants to throw a set of stag or imistag scales on it. Hmmm.........
Anyway, pictures!
Whatcha think? Did I make a good buy??
Mark shows to be a Hammer Brand, 1938-41. It's in fairly good shape for the age. It has been used, but not abused.
Looking closely through the patina, I can see it was obviously sharpened on a stone, not a grinder. The secondary/sharpening bevel widens as it comes to the point, indicative of sweeping the tip down and not raising the butt at the end of the sharpening stroke. I do that on my own knives, because I like a thin tip that is mostly secondary bevel. I'd never sharpen a customer's knife that way, but I like it on mine.
It hasn't been sharpened equally plunge to tip, but at least it doesn't have a recurve. I think the knife was used well.
The handle scales are pulling off slightly, but they are still tight on the tang with the rivets, with no discernible wiggle.
All in all, I'd love to see a catalog page or an example of this knife as it was new. It looks like a pretty handy size.
I put it to a stone for a few licks when I got home. It seems that the steel is fairly hard. Like most Imperials of that era, I assume it will take a keen edge.
Part of me wants to use it like it is, another part of me wants to throw a set of stag or imistag scales on it. Hmmm.........
Anyway, pictures!
Whatcha think? Did I make a good buy??
