Imperials and Colonials are they the poormans' collectable?

This knife is the type of Imperial that I was referring to when talking about lovely walk and talk, -this is one very nice knife, and its built as good as any..
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As is this knife...Another Imperial Diamond edge...
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I picked this little beauty up at a local antique shop last weekend.
I saw the jigged bone & had to have it after a bit of haggling.

The bone doesn't match up with the bolsters very well on the corners & there is a small bit of bone broken off near the cutout as you can see,but the blades are solid,springs are strong & it sharpened up very nicely.

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thawk said:
I think the Imperials and Colonials are excellent collectibles, and both companies made high quality knives with nice handles as well as the economy lines. Especially when you get into the older ones. Look for ones with IKCO stamps. Older more high quality Imperials.
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That might be a good way to stay focussed. I just bought three more shell-handles, but two had multiple patent numbers on them and one was a Kamp King- can't have too many of those. And they were $3 each, so I'd have been a fool not to buy them.
I've got some conventionally-handled Imperials, but no IKCO stamps. Thanks for the heads-up.
 
scrteened porch said:
That might be a good way to stay focussed. I just bought three more shell-handles, but two had multiple patent numbers on them and one was a Kamp King- can't have too many of those. And they were $3 each, so I'd have been a fool not to buy them.
I've got some conventionally-handled Imperials, but no IKCO stamps. Thanks for the heads-up.
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I agree sp, any advice that Hal kindly gives is advice worth listening too!
 
Here's three I managed to find at local flea markets.
I didn't pay much for them , so they are an inexpensive collectible.
The yellow one is a Colonial the other two are Imperials.
The black handled Imperial is made in Ireland the white one is US made.
My favorite is the Colonial.



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I forgot about my 'Trick Knives' and a Irish Imperial that I re-scaled in Axis deer. 300Bucks

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And a key knife.
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Very collectible. Valuable? How much you want for them?

Frankly, I think those old economy lines were users, though kinda junky back then, and remain kind of junky today. They're outshined by their modern counterparts in almost every way. Except they are old. And increasingly rare. And not made in Asia. Those things count in their favor as far as collectablility goes.
 
Picked this one up a few years ago at a yardsale for a $1 great little knife Imperial Platinum Edge Serpentine Jack, this is a tiny little knife with oversized blades, I keep this one tucked into the corner of my wallet, it's a little thicker than a chopstick.

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Love the pics guys, I didn't realize that there were that many nice Colonials and Imperials out there.
 
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I saw one in nicer shape sold for $10 on that auction place, That's not a bad price for a old knife, you'd pay that for a knife from a jar at the hardware store but at least with the old Imperial/Colonials that are accordin' to some books and experts "...not considered a collectable knife...".

You can still pick up a decent user and by some of the examples shown here a perfect example of the cutlers art, these guys put their hearts into these knives back in the day and it showed.

Some times I wonder if I should just keep mum about the Imperial/Colonials buy 'em all up and when they're all gone you'll have to come to me, why I'll be popular, yea, people will pay for my knives, pay I tell ya.... :) ;), (gotta stop watchin' them old gangster movies)

At any rate, great lookin' knive folks, let's see some more, I'm sure everyone's got at least one in a drawer somewhere. ;)
 
Broke out the camera to get some stuff to keep this going. First we have a Imperial 840 Backpacker with a Ranger LB-125. Second are a couple of Imperials.

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I always wanted a Planters Peanut knife, kinda like the Purina Checkerboard knife I always wanted but of course I got the peanut knife.

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I have a Colonial pocket knife in a baseball bat shape with about 2 3/4 inch blade. It has the name Col. Bob (name with-held_______, < Grand Island, NE on the side. I cannot find any related information on this knife or the soldier.
 
I used to turn my nose up at all of the Imperials I've seen, and really wished I hadn't. Most of them were the plastic handled junkers sold for a few bucks at most of the junk stores I've haunted for knives in the past. Most of the scales were broken or falling off, the springs were either seized shut or loose, and the blades were heavily patina'd or so dull butter wouldn't get out of their way.

Then I saw my buddie's Imperial knife, a beautiful scout knife carried by his drill sergeant in the Marines. Then, I saw a really nice looking stockman that a local knife dealer had at a gun show, I wish I would've traded the knives I had at the time and paid the damn $20 bucks, instead of dickering with the dealer over the price, it was a great looking knife. These two were much different than the junkers I'd seen bearing the Imperial name on them. No plastic or loose blades on these.

Some of the blades on recent knives from both companies, and on older Kamp Kings etc, looked and felt like they were made of sheet metal.

I am going to the local gun show this Friday after work to see if I can do a little knife trading with that same owner for that old Schrade.

So, yeah, both made some great knives, believe it or not. I can't find any of the old Imperials or Colonials at my junk shop haunts any more. I guess when I got the old Remingtons, Voos and other assorted knives, I used all my knife luck for the next ten years!
 
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