Need help identifying this old knife!

T

Two Dog Man

Joined
Jul 23, 2012
Messages
92
The knife fairy paid me a visit yesterday. I was digging through my tool bucket and discovered this old slip joint ... rough shape. I have no recollection as to how I ever came to own it or where it came from. All I can tell you is that I wish this happened more often to me. I gave it a good face lift, removed the rust and oiled it up and then put a sufficient edge on it. I'm sort of fond of it, to be honest. It's pretty cool. I need help, though. I'd like to learn more about it and I'm certain there will be more than a few of you who can offer some insight.

There is a patent number on the pen blade (#2037943) and the words "other pat. pend." beneath the number. But, I researched the patent and it was a patent filed by O.E. Stiehl et al on April 25th, 1935 regarding the handle casing, not the knife itself. The knife, pictured here with a sub compact Springfield Armory XDs (.45 ACP) for scale, measures 3.5" closed and the main blade measures about 2.25".

I wanted to believe it was a Barlow design, but it lacks that long, single bolster in lieu of twin ends. Don't know the material of the scales. Good steel, though. Took a scary sharp edge and cuts like a razor blade now.

So ... how about some insight, fellow blade runners?


SLR8549-LWF-web-XL.jpg
 
I'd call the pattern a "jack knife" since both blades open from the same end.
The handle material appears to be celluloid; I've seen a similar celluloid design recently but don't know what it's called. Also notice the shrinkage as evident by the gaps between the scales and bolsters.

Wish I knew who made it.
 
It's an Imperial Knife Co. of Rhode Island. The patent refers to the shell handle construction that Imperial and other RI cutlers were famous for using. It was probably sold under their Hammer Brand trademark. The handles are sheet celluloid in a random pattern that is now sometimes referred to as "butter and molasses". It's a standard Jack pattern.
 
Probably 40's - early 60's. They sold a lot of knives and the patent was still stamped on most for many, many years. The celluloid on the handle is actually more helpful, as they tended to get plainer after the 60's.
 
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