Imperial and Colonial higher end lines

[filedog]

I'm still learning about the various vintage brands, and so far, I've stayed away from shell construction knives. I know Imperial and Colonial used this type of construction, but their higher end lines (Frontier, Old Cutler and Ranger), apparently use something more like Swinden Key? Am I wrong about this? I think I've seen Imperials with a though pin. Can anyone shed some light on these higher end Colonial and Imperials? Do the pivots hold up? Are they as good as US Schrade or Case?

 

[edbeau]

As the collector of Frontiers, they were all made by Camillus for Imperial. Frontier information can be found here. http://collectors-of-schrades-r.us/frontiers/index.htm There a thread in this area all about Colonial knives also.

 

[edbeau]

All with pins

 

[edbeau]

Colonial thread https://www.bladeforums.com/threads/colonial-knife-co-providence-r-i.1393295/

 

[Hickory n steel]

I'm still learning about the various vintage brands, and so far, I've stayed away from shell construction knives. I know Imperial and Colonial used this type of construction, but their higher end lines (Frontier, Old Cutler and Ranger), apparently use something more like Swinden Key? Am I wrong about this? I think I've seen Imperials with a though pin. Can anyone shed some light on these higher end Colonial and Imperials? Do the pivots hold up? Are they as good as US Schrade or Case?

Not to go off topic, but there's nothing wrong with the shell construction knives for EDC.
They steel is great on the imperials and they're born to slice, which they do very well.
Btw the very early imperials did not use the shell construction so there's also that to look for.

I urge you to give a shell construction knife or two a try, you'll realize that they're plenty strong enough for general EDC.

 

[kamagong]

I think I've seen Imperials with a though pin.

Some did indeed have the through pinned construction. For example -

 

[oldtymer]

kamagong
Beautiful older knife, wish we could get jigging like that from todays makers

 

[filedog]

As the collector of Frontiers, they were all made by Camillus for Imperial. Frontier information can be found here. http://collectors-of-schrades-r.us/frontiers/index.htm There a thread in this area all about Colonial knives also.

Did not know that. Makes sense, though, if Camillus made the Frontiers, that they would have different construction, thanks.

 

[herder]

Some very nice knives shown by edbeau and Kamagong, but I would certainly suggest not to shy away from less expensive shell wrapped handled knives. Imperial offered some wonderful and quite interesting post WWII examples which can be found at very reasonable prices. Enclosed are a few examples.

View attachment 786527

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View attachment 786529

 

[Gevonovich]

What a treat H herder ! I love those two toned. Here is a great old one for your thread. Many of these made. Imperial made some super knives

 

[Gevonovich]

Here is a shell and does it get sharp

This one is truly the Lambs Ear !! Soooo well made and has some real heft and talk about walk and talk

 

[filedog]

Some did indeed have the through pinned construction. For example -

What a beauty!

Some very nice knives shown by edbeau and Kamagong, but I would certainly suggest not to shy away from less expensive shell wrapped handled knives. Imperial offered some wonderful and quite interesting post WWII examples which can be found at very reasonable prices. Enclosed are a few examples.

View attachment 786527

View attachment 786528

View attachment 786529

Those are nice. Those key knives are cool! Never seen a letter opener with a folding blade!

What a treat H herder ! I love those two toned. Here is a great old one for your thread. Many of these made. Imperial made some super knives

Sweet EO jack! Beautiful scales.

Here is a shell and does it get sharp

This one is truly the Lambs Ear !! Soooo well made and has some real heft and talk about walk and talk

Great cigar! OK, you guys have convinced me!

 

[tongueriver]

As far as I know, all Colonials and Imperials (and for that matter every folder known to man EXCEPT 1960-2004 SCHRADES) have pinned blades. The Swinden system was invented by Mr. Swinden, who died last year (RIP) (he was working at Canal Street Cutlery and was an aged man), and went into production about 1960-1961. The machinery was at the Imperial Schrade (formerly Ulster) buildings in Ellenville, NY, and I do not believe that machinery was in the Imperial buildings. I know it was not in the Camillus buildings. It was a proprietary method used nowhere else. Incidently, although all the post 1960-61 smaller Schrade folders used this construction method, some of the larger ones continued to use pinned blades. The folding hunters, lockbacks and the 51OT come to mind, and there may be others.

 

[deltaboy]

Thanks for the information!

 

[Buzzbait]

As far as I know, all Colonials and Imperials (and for that matter every folder known to man EXCEPT 1960-2004 SCHRADES) have pinned blades

Colonial and Imperial used a method of construction that did not have a pivot pin running all the way through bolster. It’s not the Swinden system, but something different. Definitely not your conventional construction method.

 

[tongueriver]

Are we talking solid or shell bolsters? The shell bolsters were crimped on. Or something.... lol.

 

[deltaboy]

They are Solid knifes!.

 

[Buzzbait]

Are we talking solid or shell bolsters? The shell bolsters were crimped on. Or something.... lol.

Here’s a link to another thread with diagrams.

 

[filedog]

Got this beauty in the mail today. 3 7/8", delrin scales. Nice, well finished, hefty knife.
Seems pretty similar in quality to the Case knives I have handled. I read they used
1095 on the Old Cutler stuff. Solid pulls, Quite a bargain!

 

[herder]

What a treat H herder ! I love those two toned. Here is a great old one for your thread. Many of these made. Imperial made some super knives

Thanks Gev, and beautiful examples from your end.