Imperial ??? Style

glennbad

glennbad

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Knifemaker / Craftsman / Service Provider
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Jan 13, 2003
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As you know, I enjoy collecting Imperials, especially the shell handle knives. One style that has caught my eye (and others) continually is the 50's looking 2-tone handled pocket knife.

I have compiled all that I own so far, here is a pic:

Imperial018.jpg


All are Imperials except the one on the bottom right. That is German-made.

I have been unable to locate any info on this style. I know Michael is interested in this style as well, and has a good nose for research. He may well be preparing a white paper on it as we speak.

I am throwing this topic out to the viewing public. Can anyone shed any light into this style.

BTW, Rich, I think I saw a toothpick in this style in your Imperial pics last week. Got anything else like this that you're hiding?

Anybody else have any of these? We'd love to see them.

Thanks,
Glenn
 
I too have been waiting for a Codger rant on the shell handles. I have a few Imperial and Hammer Brand. Somewhere I have a little Hammer Brand shell that is shaped like a bowling pin, but can't find it this morning.
Here are a few I could find this morning. The two on the right are Imperials and the three on the left are Hammer Brands.

[URL=http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d178/orvet/Shellhandles.jpg][/URL]

Dale
 
I love those! Glenn, I will keep my eye out for more for you. Yep, I've had a few of the two tone toothpicks, all were a strange size, I seem to recall, not the mini 2 1/2", but not as large as the 4 1/4". I bet LT has them and can straighten me out if I am mistaken.

For a long time, the only toothpicks I could afford to collect (and there were always a bunch of them around) were the colorful shell handles made by Imperial, under thier own name and the Hammer brand as made by Imperil. As well as the German made ones, the first to use that style of handle/bolster.

Phil
 
A lot of these will be seen with either two or three patent numbers. One of those is the Stiehl patent, the other the Mirando patent, both covering the shell knife configuration. Imperial made theirs under purchased license rights of the Stiehl patent. This might explain the appearance of the German knives.
14b3i2s.jpg


Here is a knife I missed not long ago. Darnit.
14b3kfq.jpg


Codger
 
Glenn,
Dawg-on-it,those knives remind me of the two-tone paint jobs on the cars of my misspent youth.I believe the two-tone became popular on Fords and Chevy's about 1955 and lasted until about 1970.
They sure had some nice color combinations and so do those knives.
I can still hear the dual pipes,of a red & cream '56 Ford,gurgling and rumbling while coming off the mountain on a moonlit summer night with your best girl snuggled close !!:thumbup: :cool: :D :thumbup:
Ron
 
Glenn:
Here's another one like the 3 green and yellow ones you have. This one is a little pen. A yard-sale find. . . probably the closest to mint I've ever found that way. My 15-yr-old daughter thought it was "cute," so guess who it belongs to now. Saw one of these on e-bay ahwile back, referred to as a "cigar band" knife. But that's about all I know. Here I thought no one cared about the stamped shell style knives...not much interest on e-bay. But this week I listed a bonafide solid handled (first sold Imperial I've ever seen) Imperial Camp from 1944 (Pat Pend on can opener) with some definite quality features not in the stamped shell Kamp-King I also listed, and the Kamp-King is getting more interest. Well here's my "daughter's" knife... if I can make the insert photo thingy work.

LilImp.jpg


Later,
Barry
 
Well, starting to get some feedback. Nice pics, guys.

I also remember someone posted a racing commercial a while back, and we were trying to ID one of these. I think that one had a wharncliffe or sheepsfoot style blade. Wasn't the lady trying to find one for her husband?

How many knife styles are like this, that you can look at it, and automatically think of the time frame when they might have been made?

Ron, that's a bit before my time, I'll have to live vicariously through your memories...;)

Glenn
 
hi, as faor the little shell handle imperials ive alwahs liked these cheap little knives , carry one almost every day and if you put a edge on these 'CHEAP' knives they will be razor sharp and when you use it up you can find another one anywhere for 2,3 bucks.
 
Glenn,
You missed a great era to grow up in.

56vic


Some of the old-timers may remember these.
Nice ads,Codger !
That little Nash would fit in the back of a pickup. A mint Hawk is worth more than my house,today.
Ron
 
The pen knife is even shaped like the Metro. That is what made me think of them. And some of the color combos remind me of the Packards. When was the last time you saw a red and black two-tone car? Don't forget the miles of chrome!
 
glennbad said:
......One style that has caught my eye (and others) continually is the 50's looking 2-tone handled pocket knife...Can anyone shed any light into this style?...Glenn
Click to expand...

Imperial called the style Tu-Tone (you were closer than you thought!). Here are the first two patterns I located, circa 1959 (also as we suspected). They might predate these illustrations, and certainly may have been also made after. I am still looking for the two numbers not seen here, the PM-2, PM-3 (which may or may not be the two other patteerns you showed us).
14tc8zl.jpg


Codger
 
As usual, Codg, great info. Who found that Imperial reference material, BTW?

Glenn
 
A treasure trove of info! I owe ya both a margeurita!

Glenn
 
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