Imperials and Colonials

Morablades

Morablades

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Dec 29, 2007
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My search function isn't working well right now so I'm just going to ask. Imperial and Colonial knives. Are they any good? Maybe a good beater? I just grabbed a few off ebay for a couple bucks a piece, brand new. The fit and finish looks ok from the pics. Thanks.
 
Morablades said:
My search function isn't working well right now so I'm just going to ask. Imperial and Colonial knives. Are they any good? Maybe a good beater? I just grabbed a few off ebay for a couple bucks a piece, brand new. The fit and finish looks ok from the pics. Thanks.
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There can be some real nice Imperials. The top of the line ones are far outnumbered by the cheapies, but there are some bone handled Imperials that are were very nice. Most of the Imperials were meant to be affordable. They were big on counter displays and cell handles, later on a lot of shell handles.

http://www.collectors-of-schrades-r.us/Imperial/Old Imperial Catalogs.htm

I suppose the same might be true of Colonials, but I can't say I've seen any of them.
 
I remember Inperials being popular when I was a kid, as a low cost knife. Its was a shame, because once upon a time they were very good knives, with real bone handles and nice finish. About 10 years after the end of WW2 they started to go low ball with crimped on handles, but still had decent carbon steel blades. The ones I recall most were the barlows, with the name Barlow in embossed letters on the shell bolster. Not much for looks, but they sharpened up real well and cut good.
 
As a Union Electrician in NYC in the 70s, we all had Colonial Electricians knives on our tool pouches.
Two blades, a carbon spear blade and locking screwdriver/reamer
Brown smooth delrin with a bail for hanging on the knife loop on the tool pouch
That was the only knife you could buy in all the Supply Houses
Good strong knife that sharpen well, and the reamer was sturdy.
Was in use constantly and held up
 
Not to sure about Colonial but Imperial originally in Providence RI was bought/ merged with Schrade not sure of year but they were called Imperial Schrade Corp. at the time of Schrades demise:grumpy: so once again no more to be made, in a post on this forum a well respected member made a statement somthing along the lines of "get em while you still can" yes most of the Imperials were considered inexpensive (hate the word CHEAP) but still a real piece of Americana IMHO. I have some of both the makers, seems to me they made lots of Add. / Promo. material over the years but they deffinately made users as well so once again "get em while you still can"!!!
 
I picked up a small Imperial 2 blade jack-knife at an antique mall for $10. I bought it because it looked unused. It's the kind with crimped on handles, covered with imitation pearl.

It's definitely a lower end knife , but the steel seems pretty good and it has full half-stops.
 
jackknife said:
I remember Inperials being popular when I was a kid, as a low cost knife. Its was a shame, because once upon a time they were very good knives, with real bone handles and nice finish. About 10 years after the end of WW2 they started to go low ball with crimped on handles, but still had decent carbon steel blades. The ones I recall most were the barlows, with the name Barlow in embossed letters on the shell bolster. Not much for looks, but they sharpened up real well and cut good.
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That's the one I got. The Barlow. I'll post some pics and carry it for a couple days and let you guys know how it does. Thanks for all the comments.
 
I posted on another forum about seeing these when I was growing up. I have several now, and I'd be fine with carrying any one of them. They have good steel in the blades, though they do look cheap. You got a good deal on some great user knives, IMHO.

thx - cpr
 
The steel is good on Imperials I think
Sometimes the handle material and attachment seems cheap
I got these fixed blade ones (H-46 and H-47) and they had like some foil handles :thumbdn:
Stay away from these Imperials!!!====>
http://cgi.ebay.com/Vintage-Sargent-Imperial-Fishing-Knife-Sheath_W0QQitemZ310031250173QQihZ021QQcategoryZ43326QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
http://cgi.ebay.com/Vintage-Imperial-Hunting-Knife-with-2-Sheaths_W0QQitemZ200206234859QQihZ010QQcategoryZ43322QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

The H-6 and H-7 are a really good value I think
They are dirt cheap on EBAY

Still Imperials look cool, have a history and you can use them


Can't comment on Colonials
Don't own any.......
 
I have a really neat Imperial slipjoint 2 blade. It's more recent production, Irish made, and the scales are synthetic with no liners. It's an interesting little knife with a decent edge and some of the thinnest blades I've seen. It's small too.
 
Sounds like the Apex slipjoint I picked up recently from Imperial. Very inexpensive looking but also very sharp.
 
Here's a circa 1970 set I found worth scrounging for. It took me about a year to find them all. There is also a fixed blade in this series. Imperial DE. As nice as the Uncle Henry and Old Timers from the same time frame.

DE_Set.jpg


The blades are stainless and have a nice matte finish

DE_three.jpg


Here's one more Imperial Razor Blade same size the Ulster 58OT and similar in quality to other Schrade Razor Blade SS knives. On the old Ulster 55 frame.

imperial_55_grampy.jpg
 
I believe that there are lots of different Imperials and Colonials, surely many are good beaters. Here's an old simple Mexican Imperial that I have.

Luis


Click to enlarge
 
Don_Luis said:
I believe that there are lots of different Imperials and Colonials, surely many are good beaters. Here's an old simple Mexican Imperial that I have.

Luis


Click to enlarge
Click to expand...

Nice one Don Luis. It would be a perfect knife to pop the caps on a Modelo frio!
 
Come on guys!!!
You know you can't touch my Stag-O-Matic jigged set!!! :cool:

2224792797_6576acb956.jpg


2224780805_86f2266900.jpg


Look at that craftsmanship on the handle....

I got my eyeball out on EBAY for any more in the set :thumbup: ;)

You got a patent # or vintage ad for that "Diamond Edge" Hawk??
 
I just got an Imperial stockman from Kiahs here on the forums. Came in the mail today. Used it all day and I am very pleased with it. This one is made in the USA, Prov. R.I. I'll get a pic up soon.

Thanks for all the info guys. I know a lot of what to look for now concerning this brand.
 
Trent Rock said:
Come on guys!!!
You know you can't touch my Stag-O-Matic jigged set!!! :cool:

2224792797_6576acb956.jpg


2224780805_86f2266900.jpg


Look at that craftsmanship on the handle....

I got my eyeball out on EBAY for any more in the set :thumbup: ;)

You got a patent # or vintage ad for that "Diamond Edge" Hawk??
Click to expand...

I've got a Stockman like those, but it's got a crown on the scale. The main blade is broken off, so I don't know if it's Imperial or not.
 
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