Did Taylor get the "Imperial" brand along with Schrade?

[DaveT63]

Was browsing through some ads on ebay, and ran across a couple "Schrade Imperial" knives. Both have the long oval shield with "Imperial" on it. No mention in the description of where it is made, but on one of the auctions, it looks like Taylor packaging. That picture makes it look like there isn't even a tang stamp on either knife. Made me wonder.

Thanks,

Dave

 

[thawk]

I'm not sure Taylor got the Imperial name, but I believe you may be correct. I think I've seen some new knives labeled Imperial, and auctioned as Schrades. Marketing ploy???

Once the merger occured in the 80's, for the most part, the Imperials, i.e. the Jackmaster line, were a more economical line of knives to purchase.

The history of Schrade, Imperial, and Walden, and Ulster are quite intertwined and complicated. The knives that grew out of the history of these four companies... even more so.

From Irv's fabulous website:
http://www.collectors-of-schrades-r.us/articles/SCHRADECUTLERY.pdf
http://www.collectors-of-schrades-r.us/articles/Schrade History.pdf
http://www.collectors-of-schrades-r.us/articles/Schradehistory.pdf
http://www.collectors-of-schrades-r.us/FLYERS/flyers.html

There are some Imperials that are just as high quality as the Schrade counterparts from particular eras. Even in the 60's and 70's, there were many similarities in a lot of the two companies offerings.

On Ebay, you have to watch out. The name Schrade is often tossed in there just to get more people interested. Some Imperials were very inexpensive based on the materials used.

 

[lrv]

The histories of Schrade, Imperial and Camillus are extremly intertwined. It took me till this year and I mean VERY recently to understand fully the family connections. More later on this.
But yes I believe Taylor has bought the rights to Imperial Schrade and most of its brand names.
TTYL
Larry