Mystery Knives

[garzast]

Good news! I worked on the "black and yellow" knife a bit where the stamp should be and lo and behold I can now see the stamp! Something I hadn't thought of -- I also had to close the blade to a 45 degree angle to be able to see the full stamp since you can't see it when it's fully opened.

Anyway, it says "Imperial" on one line and then "Providence R.I." on the next line. I did some searching and found this forum (see the photo of different stamps) that confirms this knife was produced between 1930 and 1936. That's pretty exciting to me -- just to know that my granddad carried it around for a long, long time.

Here's a photo of it:

 

[meako]

Hi garzaszt
great collection of Grandad knives you have.
They have "grandad" written all over them I say that because I know my grandad preferred new modern plastic type products over old fashioned bone and the like.Whether they are any better or not is a matter for debate. I think celluloid has been superceded by newer moderner plastic type materials such as acrylic which doesn't have the same problems. Also the bit about spontaneous combustion-that might be likely in old movie film that was made of celluloid and due to the structure of film reels may have been more prone to catching fire because of the surface area and amount of air around it being far greater than that of a small knife handle.Just a theory.
I have the 895K butter n molasses but mine is a Schrade Walden-so I think it might be a bit older. Probably not much because it looks exactly the same.It is celluloid but at maybe 40 -50 years old has no shown no sign of outgassing-neither does yours from what I can see. I'm thinking if it hasn't gone by now it probably won't.There's also a butter and molasses thread on here somewhere if you search it. Also Outgassing celluloid and the carnage it can cause. NB outgassing does not mean igniting and combusting.
cheers

 

[Balrog99]

Great looking knives. The folks in the Traditional Folders and Fixed Blades sub-forum will be able to help you out. Colonial and Schrade are well-known makers (though no longer in business). The other one you have there is a Shapleigh Hardware Co. "Diamond Edge" brand which was contracted out by that hardware company to different makers.

Imperial is pretty well known too, I've got a 2 schrades, 2 imperials, and 2 colonials. Nice knives, if I were your kids I'd love them.

 

[Brian.Evans]

Regarding the razor.
George Wolstenholm acquired the I-XL trademark in 1826, so it's post 1826. If it doesn't say Sheffield England on it, it's likely pre-1891. In 1890, the US McKinley Tariff Act required all imported goods to be marked with their country of origin.* However, sometimes they marked them anyway prior, so that's not a hard rule for predating, but one for post dating. Clear as mud?

I know I used to know when he changed from Son to Sons, but I can't remember right now......