Let's see your "shell" manifactured knives.

[davemonkey]

There has probably been a similar thread started, but I couldn't find it with a quick search. Anyway, I am drawn to these old shell knives. They are nice and unique pieces and usually inexpensive to get. I'm sure there are more of you that just can't pass up grabbing one for a few dollars. So Let's see what you got. Here are a few I have currently. 2 Richard's, 2 Hammer Brand, a Providence, and an Imperial Diamond edge.

 

[lambertiana]

I haven't bought any yet, but I have been tempted. There are enough of them out there. According to BRL, Imperial's production exceeded 100,000 knives per DAY in 1940, and I would bet that most of them were these shell handled knives. They were inexpensive then, and still inexpensive today. There seems to be a color and pattern for just about any taste.

 

[T. Erdelyi]

Tin shell knives are fast becoming the new collectibles. There are lots of variations in patterns and scale materials, this is a good recipe for a collectible. Add to that the prices generally fall in the $5-$10 range and you can build a collection for less than the cost of a new Spyderco.

 

[Ace Rimmer]

I don't know what you mean by "shell knives" and would appreciate any clarification anyone can provide. I saw a couple of Imperial Schrades today that look very similar to some of those pictured here. The blades had a sort of satin finish and I assume the covers are acrylic. I asked the store owner if they were carbon steel but he didn't know, but assumed they were stainless. (And Pat knows his knives, believe me.) They were quite attractive and priced at $10. I'm tempted to pick one up just for the novelty value.

 

[Rich S]

Had this one for a while. I made a small collection of "boy's knives" several years ago.



Of little value, but fun to remember what early kids knives were all about.
Rich

 

[Jolipapa]

Richard camping knife.

 

[A.L.]

I don't know what you mean by "shell knives" and would appreciate any clarification anyone can provide. I saw a couple of Imperial Schrades today that look very similar to some of those pictured here. The blades had a sort of satin finish and I assume the covers are acrylic. I asked the store owner if they were carbon steel but he didn't know, but assumed they were stainless. (And Pat knows his knives, believe me.) They were quite attractive and priced at $10. I'm tempted to pick one up just for the novelty value.

I believe they are knives with hollowed out bolsters and scales.

 

[glennbad]

Here is one of my favorites, made by Imperial. The style is called Tu-Tone.

 

[glennbad]

And here's a really odd one...Hammer Brand

 

[screened porch]

I don't know what you mean by "shell knives" and would appreciate any clarification anyone can provide. I saw a couple of Imperial Schrades today that look very similar to some of those pictured here. The blades had a sort of satin finish and I assume the covers are acrylic. I asked the store owner if they were carbon steel but he didn't know, but assumed they were stainless. (And Pat knows his knives, believe me.) They were quite attractive and priced at $10. I'm tempted to pick one up just for the novelty value.

The handle-covers are one-piece stamped steel crimped over the liners with tabs at each end. Colonials and Imperials were like that. Stag of Ireland's variaton has the covers held on by tabs toward the middle.

 

[Lostball]

And here's a really odd one...Hammer Brand

If GEC made this with a sheepsfoot secondary with their nice wood or bone scales and F&F I believe it would be a hot seller

 

[johnny twoshoes]

 

[Rich S]

Glenbad -

That Imperial Tu-Tone display is really neat. Never seen any of those around.
Here's another boy's knife from my meager collection.



Rich

 

[T. Erdelyi]

GB great display, I had one of those as a kid so many years ago, I'd never seen one since, till today and yours, thanks for the memories.

 

[Gevonovich]

Colonials are open Imperials are closed (you can see the dent in the bolster of the barlow )

I cherish this one and I sure would like " A Walk in the Clouds" with the one who gave it to me ( movie ref. )

...but I've looked at clouds from both sides now
and still somehow
it's life's illusions
that I recall
I really don't know clouds
at all

 

[edbeau]

Not mine but I did clean it up for a friend at work. Colonial PIC-NIC-PAL

 

[edbeau]

A couple of Imperials

 

[5K Qs]

Here's an Imperial serpentine jack, 3 1/8" closed, that used to belong to my father-in-law, who gave it to my wife sometime in the distant past (pre-1984), who gave it to me in January 2014 and started me on this pocket knife road to ruin!

Here's a Colonial jack (thanks, Mark). Very skinny!


- GT

 

[PocketKnifeJimmy]

My one and only shell knife. It's a mint Colonial camp knife with a unique blade combination.

 

[PocketKnifeJimmy]

Sorry, double post.