Hammer brand help

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SuburbanBarbarian

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Aug 12, 2018
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Going through the last of stuff in my Grandparent's house before selling, I found an old knife of my Grandpa's. Closed length of 3.5" clip point main blade(2.5") and an awl. Blade says Hammer Brand. Has a thin peeling layer of yellowish pearl celluloid(glorified sticker) on metal handle. Carbon steel blades in need of some love. Anyone know much about this brand or knife? I'd post a pic, but I suck at posting photos on forums,ha ha.
 
Hammer Brand was popular between the late 30's thru the early 50's. The description sound like you have a stamped shell handle construction. These knives weren't terribly valuable, but they are good performers, and of course, belonging to your Grandpa, that makes it priceless!
 
20180825_145027_zpsqzlizyqt.jpg.html
http://s1266.photobucket.com/user/DangerDan42/media/20180825_145027_zpsqzlizyqt.jpg.html?sort=3&o=0
20180825_145027_zpsqzlizyqt.jpg.html
hmmm, did that work? (Trying to post picture.) Should be a working link to a picture. The single blade one is an old Camillus that was also his, also found in a tackle box
http://s1266.photobucket.com/user/D...[user]=147334153&filters[recent]=1&sort=1&o=0
 
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glennbad said:
Hammer Brand was popular between the late 30's thru the early 50's. The description sound like you have a stamped shell handle construction. These knives weren't terribly valuable, but they are good performers, and of course, belonging to your Grandpa, that makes it priceless!
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Yeah, looks like a stamped shell, thanks for the info
 
With a little more digging, it seems it's pre-1945 as it has the Hammer Brand logo without US stamped to the right. Seems surprisingly sturdy considering it's age and the fact I know my Grandpa was rough with them.
 
I have some of those shell knives, the steel takes a nice edge! Except for the peeling shell yours is in pretty good shape, the blade looks almost full. What are your plans for it?
 
Haven't decided yet. I'm trying to get it to be functional. 15 minutes of WD-40 and a little steel wool got the awl working again. I got a second picture link added above that has better lighting. I'm on the fence as to what to do with the peeling grips. Would kinda like to have it as a fancy carry for the occasional times I dress up.
 
SuburbanBarbarian said:
Haven't decided yet. I'm trying to get it to be functional. 15 minutes of WD-40 and a little steel wool got the awl working again. I got a second picture link added above that has better lighting. I'm on the fence as to what to do with the peeling grips. Would kinda like to have it as a fancy carry for the occasional times I dress up.
Click to expand...
Imperial started making the shell handle knives in order to offset the labor costs involved with knife making at the time. I have several of these and the handles are the only thing cheap about them, the construction of the knives themselves are quite good and sturdy. Unfortunately even the celluloid wraps are sensitive to their environment and will turn brittle / tear. in heat / sunlight / humidity. I just remove the wrap from both sides and clean them up to present them as metal handled knives :D Remember that WD-40 is a solvent (cleaner) and not a lubricator... use a little mineral oil or blade oil on the joints. :thumbsup:
 
veitsi_poika said:
Imperial started making the shell handle knives in order to offset the labor costs involved with knife making at the time. I have several of these and the handles are the only thing cheap about them, the construction of the knives themselves are quite good and sturdy. Unfortunately even the celluloid wraps are sensitive to their environment and will turn brittle / tear. in heat / sunlight / humidity. I just remove the wrap from both sides and clean them up to present them as metal handled knives :D Remember that WD-40 is a solvent (cleaner) and not a lubricator... use a little mineral oil or blade oil on the joints. :thumbsup:
Click to expand...
I tend to use 3 in 1 oil. The WD-40 was just to break loose decades of crud. I needed my SAK just to open the awl the first time.
 
SuburbanBarbarian said:
I tend to use 3 in 1 oil. The WD-40 was just to break loose decades of crud. I needed my SAK just to open the awl the first time.
Click to expand...
Sounds like you got it under control ;):thumbsup: I have not seen many Imperial shell harness jacks, that is a cool old knife and a sentimental find :)
 
This may help.

IMG_1460.JPG

I am a fan of the shell handled knives, they are interesting to me in that they are and were cheap and sort of cheesily constructed (compared to premium knives), but they are highly functional and have a unique sense of nostalgia to me.
 
TheChunk91 said:
This may help.

View attachment 972908

I am a fan of the shell handled knives, they are interesting to me in that they are and were cheap and sort of cheesily constructed (compared to premium knives), but they are highly functional and have a unique sense of nostalgia to me.
Click to expand...
Thanks. I found that and it looks like the 1938-41 stamp. No US Mark, but the arm w/ hammer is obstructed by the bolsters and corrosion. I'd try a pic, but it was hard enough to make out w/ my eyes in good light.
 
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