I recently located an Imperial two blade pocket knife with gray striped scales. I can't seem to find much on the knife and wondering if the scales are replacements. I have added photos in the imgur link below of the knife and the tang stamps. I couldn't get the photos to post outside of the link.
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Gray striped Imperial Pocket Knife
- Thread starter Raybros
- Start date
Is it a shell bolster? Those came in a lot of colorful designs, many of which are peeling off by now.
They were inexpensive back in the 50s, a lot of boys started out on them and used them down to just about nothing (or lost them, or broke the blades off doing boy thing…)
They were inexpensive back in the 50s, a lot of boys started out on them and used them down to just about nothing (or lost them, or broke the blades off doing boy thing…)
Not sure if it is shell or not. I'm new to this vintage pocket knife hobby (but I'm hooked). The knife is in really good shape and handles don't show any sign of peeling which is why I wondered if they might not be original.
It's a "shell wrap", the celluloid handles are wrapped around steel handle scales with bolsters extending out at each end. Imperial made a wide variety of them. Celluloid will shrink over time, which it appears the handle on your knife is doing (the gaps between the ends of the wrap and the ridge of the bolsters).
I'd be inclined to believe the handles are original. In order for someone other than Imperial to put those handles on-
1. They would need the celluloid. How many people have access to that, or just have it lying around.
2. They would need to pry the tabs back that hold the metal handle scales on at one end, and then bend them back to re-attach them, which is no small task as it's easy to break those tabs. Those knives were not made to be taken apart and reassembled.
3. And they would need to re-install the pins and shield. Both the pins and shield look clean, so again, I'm inclined to believe the knife is factory original.
Replacing the wrap handles seems like a lot of work for such an inexpensive knife.
Based on the tang stamp, that knife could have been made as recently as 1988, which could explain why the wraps have not deteriorated more.
I'd be inclined to believe the handles are original. In order for someone other than Imperial to put those handles on-
1. They would need the celluloid. How many people have access to that, or just have it lying around.
2. They would need to pry the tabs back that hold the metal handle scales on at one end, and then bend them back to re-attach them, which is no small task as it's easy to break those tabs. Those knives were not made to be taken apart and reassembled.
3. And they would need to re-install the pins and shield. Both the pins and shield look clean, so again, I'm inclined to believe the knife is factory original.
Replacing the wrap handles seems like a lot of work for such an inexpensive knife.
Based on the tang stamp, that knife could have been made as recently as 1988, which could explain why the wraps have not deteriorated more.
