waynorth
Dealer / Materials Provider
- Joined
- Nov 19, 2005
- Messages
- 33,488
Who hasn't heard the song by Johnny Cash, "A Boy Named Sue!"? I'd venture we've all heard it, 'cept maybe a few young'uns!
The ne'er do well father in the song/story figures he's not going to be there to raise the boy, so he names him "Sue", figuring he'll have to learn to be tough to survive such an appellation!
Old Pop eventually gets his come-uppance!
Misters Mirando and Fazzano brought their considerable Italian knifemaking skills to bear around the end of WW I, ca.1917 when they formed Imperial Knife Co.
They started out making humble, but well made "skeleton" knives for jewelers to adorn with fancy covers. They very soon branched into a full line of cutlery. They made some beautiful traditional bone handled knives, but found a lot of satisfaction in making less expensive pocketknives for those with less money to spend. They, to their credit, never skimped on functionality and made inexpensive knives that kept their "snap" and held an edge. They were masters of production toolmaking in their chosen area. They were very proud of their heat-treating consistency!
In the mid-1930s they began manufacturing knives with shell handles, one of the most significant changes in the industry. Again I'll ask a question - who hasn't owned one??
This tough little knife, 3 1/16" long, single bladed, with a painted shell handle, certainly wasn't made by Tony Bose!
The fit is good, but the finish is rudimentary, the spring sporting the as-punched edge at the back. But the blade edge is still quite sharp after all these years. And walk and talk, including half-stop, is worthy of a custom knife!
A bit of a time-machine knife, it's hardly ever been used, but I dare say, it would have been the best value for a dime, that any red-blooded boy could ask for!
To stand up to the endless mumbly-peg, and a few throwing efforts, this little guy HAD to be tough, and that's why I call him "Sue"!
The ne'er do well father in the song/story figures he's not going to be there to raise the boy, so he names him "Sue", figuring he'll have to learn to be tough to survive such an appellation!
Old Pop eventually gets his come-uppance!
Misters Mirando and Fazzano brought their considerable Italian knifemaking skills to bear around the end of WW I, ca.1917 when they formed Imperial Knife Co.
They started out making humble, but well made "skeleton" knives for jewelers to adorn with fancy covers. They very soon branched into a full line of cutlery. They made some beautiful traditional bone handled knives, but found a lot of satisfaction in making less expensive pocketknives for those with less money to spend. They, to their credit, never skimped on functionality and made inexpensive knives that kept their "snap" and held an edge. They were masters of production toolmaking in their chosen area. They were very proud of their heat-treating consistency!
In the mid-1930s they began manufacturing knives with shell handles, one of the most significant changes in the industry. Again I'll ask a question - who hasn't owned one??
This tough little knife, 3 1/16" long, single bladed, with a painted shell handle, certainly wasn't made by Tony Bose!
The fit is good, but the finish is rudimentary, the spring sporting the as-punched edge at the back. But the blade edge is still quite sharp after all these years. And walk and talk, including half-stop, is worthy of a custom knife!
A bit of a time-machine knife, it's hardly ever been used, but I dare say, it would have been the best value for a dime, that any red-blooded boy could ask for!
To stand up to the endless mumbly-peg, and a few throwing efforts, this little guy HAD to be tough, and that's why I call him "Sue"!
Gottal love those bails.
