Empire Strikes Again!

waynorth

waynorth

Knifemaker / Craftsman / Service Provider
Joined
Nov 19, 2005
Messages
32,244
While on a 3 week driving holiday with my beloved Joanne, we meandered all the way around Lake Ontario, visiting friends and relatives in Canada, and America the Beautiful.
I happened to schedule a knife show into our trip (imagine that!), and there, near Easton, PA, I acquired this lovely!!
The Empire Knife Company has its roots in the late 1850s, and I believe this is an early knife, although I cannot pinpoint its age. Check out its details, and those wonderful tang stamps. And it is a good thing I have healthy fingernails!!
EmpireSmallCoke1.jpg

EmpireSmallCoke2.jpg

EmpireSmallCoke3.jpg
 
Great looking knife, Charlie. Congrats!
 
Hi Charlie,

Really nice looking Empire!

I do have a question about the master blade. Were is the kick?!:eek: By looking at it , the kick appears to be the sharpened back portion of the blade. Can you post a picture with master closed and maybe the inside?

Very interesting

Ken
 
Great find, Charlie! Good for you! Would you agree with the man who said "It's the journey, not the destination." ... I mean, "It's the finding, not the knife in the display case." :)
 
There was a discussion of this kickless style on the forums (somewhere??) recently. I will hunt for it.
Yes, the tang end of the sharpened edge strikes the inside of the backspring. More scans for your viewing pleasure!!
EmpireSmallCoke4.jpg

EmpireSmallCoke5.jpg

EmpireSmallCoke6.jpg

EmpireSmallCoke7.jpg


Ignore the ugly scratches in my scanner! The little oval down inside is a mark from the blade striking the spring.
 
Thanks for the quick response! I learn something everyday here in this forum. :D Now I can get out to the shop and put some of this knowledge into practice(at least I will try).

Really is a neat find and glad you and Joanne had a great trip

Ken
 
Thanks Kerry!! A lot of similarities in the two knives!!
 
thats beautiful, wow! when i die i wanna go haunt charlie's collection:D
How do you consistantly find such fine examples?
That master blade is perfection!
glad you guys had a great trip and a successful one too!
cheers
ivan
 
waynorth said:
Thanks Kerry!! A lot of similarities in the two knives!!
Click to expand...

You're welcome, and did I ever tell you, you're like a father to me?...like a father that would leave all his neato, old knives to his dear son? Hugs :p
 
IVANKERLEY said:
thats beautiful, wow! when i die i wanna go haunt charlie's collection:D
How do you consistantly find such fine examples?
That master blade is perfection!
glad you guys had a great trip and a successful one too!
cheers
ivan
Click to expand...

You gotta keep both ears to the ground, Ivan (to quote a famous man around here!)!;)
 
waynorth said:
You gotta keep both ears to the ground, Ivan (to quote a famous man around here!)!;)
Click to expand...

At the rate you're going, you'd better keep your eyes to the ground as well to pick up a few extra nickels and dimes to help pay for those babies along the way. ;):D









(Yeah, I know. I should talk. :p)
 
I really do love the shape of that main blade. It seems like it was quite common on knives from the late 1800's to early 1900's. Don't see that too often anymore, although the spear blades on some canoes and toenails speak to me also.
 
Kbrasmodeler said:
I really do love the shape of that main blade. It seems like it was quite common on knives from the late 1800's to early 1900's. Don't see that too often anymore, although the spear blades on some canoes and toenails speak to me also.
Click to expand...

As my friend Steve Dick would say, back in that period (late 1800's) you could pretty much have your choice of master blades as long as it was a spear. ;)
 
LOVE that style of main blade! Absolutely LOVE it!

Rest of the knife ain't too shabby.....
 
Great looking Empire Charlie. I imagine your house as floor to ceiling with vintage knives with a few pathways and trails carved out between the kitchen, bathroom, etc. I bet you never go barefoot.
 
It still can't believe that knife predates the Civil War!! The Ebony really stood up to time. Wow

God Bless
 
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