Among the motifs of novelty knives I have run across while researching the Imperial Knife Associated Companies, I keep finding the recurrent theme of carved appearing deer elk and moose heads in stagged plastic handles of both folding and fixed knives. In one or two instances, the style has been carried over into the Boy Scouts Of America shield emblem. The impression of “carving” is enhanced in some cases by artful selective dying and buffing, and in others by a contrasting dye of the entire art, or of the handle area around the art.
Which example is the earliest use, I have not yet been able to decipher. Kingston knives are seen with the “Stag’s Head” motif. Supposedly Kingston dissolved circa 1947, but actually was continued as a trade stamp until some time in the early 1960's.
Just post-WWII, Imperial (read “Baer”
made a forray into Mexico with the intent of manufacturing there. I have several examples of these knives marked “Imperial / Hecho en Mexico”.
Ulster also produced a stag head motif knives. These appear in the circa 1960-61 catalogs.
The 1959 Imperial Jackmaster catalog lists and illustrates “Kameo Karved” knives with simulated stag handles, simulated pearl and simulated buffalo horn. Also listed and illustrated are knives with steer head motif. These also with the same three handle styles. They were offered on a counter display card of a dozen assorted knives with the two motifs in three handle material styles: Stagged plastic, simulated buffalo horn, and simulated pearl.
While I have examples of the Ulster and Imperial, Imperial Mexico’s, I haven’t gotten a Kingston yet. And I finally found a Kameo Karved Imperial 685KP simulated pearl.
The Stag “karved” motif was also copied by Colonial, most particularly the “moose” fixed blade hunting knife. This is an Imperial “Husky Camp Set”.
No, these were not high end knives. All of them were relatively inexpensive and meant to catch the eye of young boys with their hunting-western motifs. But I find even these cheap novelty knives to be interesting from a cutlery history standpoint. Eventually I hope to compile some more accurate date and pattern information, and build a representative display of the type.
Michael
.I am not crazy about the Longhorn motiff 
