RARE MINT VINTAGE Old Timer

Todd A

Todd A

Joined
Oct 6, 2007
Messages
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Today I stumbled upon a super rare Old Timer. A knife so rare it has never been seen in any book. A find so uncommon and rare it makes me shiver to just hold it.(Did I mention its rare? :D )









The Ultra Super RARE Prototype Diamond Edge Old Timer by Imperial....


impot4.jpg


impot3.jpg


impot1.jpg


impot5.jpg


Now I know you who are green with envy will scoff and mock my new found treasure.You will call it such things as a "End Of Days" or "Lunch Box" knife.But I know the truth :D

But really guys,I just could not pass this one by.:)
 
Is this the long lost Imperial knife that was offered with the Prince Albert Tobbaco tin's? or it's a re-bladed 58OT

Russell
 
Ummm.....my post was in jest as to rarity. When I saw this knife I thought that it was an end of days knife with 58OT scales thrown on it. Not a legit Old Timer.

Now after going through this subforum page by page it seems Imperial did make an Old Timer? I had thought all Prince Albert knives were Ulsters.

Now I am confused?????????
 
From info on other posts regarding the Prince Albert knife offers, I think it was Michael (Codger) who mentioned that somewhile either before or after the trio of knives came about that there was another offer that included an Imperial knife. Maybe you have found an example of that very knife.

Russell
 
:confused:??? Why would the mark side center pin look so rough when the scale pins look good and bolsters ETC:eek:??? just asking as the pattern does look as it imitates the 58OT OAL measurments and width specs might reveal more??? or answers.!? Not making any judgments on my part JFYI. thinking out loud.;):D So reveal the truth Todd A:p
ps. went back and looked, all the blades would appear to have the same grind which indcates to me they are all made by the same CO. :thumbup:
 
Length is 3 1/4", same as a 58OT. Width is about 3/8".
 
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Sure seems like a re-blade/end of days knife, every Diamond Edge knife I've seen from Imperial has the diamond shield and "buckhorn" handles. At least the older ones do. Imperial took over the Diamond Edge trademark in 1967, although I believe Schrade had it since about 1960. The only problen is the blade grind looks MUCH newer, not even a grind line at the tang, a shortcut I've only seen on knives in the last decade or so. Definitely not on Imperials made pre-1973 (end of the Prince Albert offer). Cool knife Todd, I don't think you'll see many of those around.

Eric

PS- Maybe it's a Frontier with OT handles and DE blade? LOL
 
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55sOT.jpg


That was a pretty versatile blade. Here is is with 3 different etches and 4 tang stamps. The 58OT was carbon steel though.

I'd a jumped on it too Todd. It's a beauty, and unique.
 
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Thawk, that's the actual 383, any idea as to the years of production on that one? Even has the same blades. Quite the twin to the 1969 Keen Kutter as well, which if it was made in the same time period would make that blade grind older than I thought.

Eric
 
No I don't know for sure. I've seen them in 1973 and 1974 brochures.
http://www.collectors-of-schrades-r.us/FLYERS/IMPERIALS/knives/Pre-1980/pages/DE-73-2.htm

But the Razor Blades by Imperial go back to 1964 (about the same times as 58OT and Schrade Walden 855's). There are some in Craftsman versions too. The DE's seem to be the end f that buckhorn peach seed look.
http://www.collectors-of-schrades-r.us/FLYERS/IMPERIALS/knives/Pre-1980/pages/IK64-RB-30-1.htm

I have a few of these too, the two on the bottom are very nice Imperial knives.
imperial_55_grampy.jpg


They all originate back to the old Ulster 55 pattern. This is an Imperial 846RB.

And there are 50OT's out there, like the 58, a jack with bone handles and milled liners.
http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showpost.php?p=4132701&postcount=3
Dale Vincent (Orvet has one)
 
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i see quite a few new production knives on ebay with the Imperial stamping.
most appear to be replicas of older Imperial patterns.
is it possible that this is a new knife, made post 2004 ? roland
 
Weellll that 383 DE that thawk posted matches perfectly to the thread starter, blade grinds, etch, pattern and all "EXCEPT" the scales so where does this leave us ? with more of those unanswered ?'s :eek:;) these are all assumptions on my part and not being able to hold both examples in hand and scrutinize them side by side makes all this tough at best! and yes I am aware of the old assumption game.;) but leads one to think EOT or the infamous lunch box special :(:confused::D
 
Nice find Todd! :thumbup:
It seems they played with that frame & those blades.
Here is a 58OT Ulster in an Imperial Diamond Edge shell body with the shell handles.

I have a couple of these picked up at different times, one from ebay & IIRC, one locally. I have also seen others on ebay. So, I would doubt the lunchbox application in this case, as well the end-of-days since these are such old Ulster blades.
Did they make some shell handles for the Prince Albert promo, or were they just experimenting to see how a new look would sell?

Nice bunch or unusual knives in this thread guys.
Dale





http://
 
I vote "lunch box special". Someone wanted a stainless Old Timer at a time when they were all carbon-only...

If it were only one blade, I could believe "factory error" as an alternative explanation. But every blade is marked Stainless, making an accidental error virtually impossible.
 
Can you imagine what the members of this thread would have done on a Friday afternoon, if we were all working on the Old Timer line at Schrade in 1970? The orders were filled and we had a couple of hours to burn, the boss was flirting up in the front office. Lots of spare parts around. Could basically put together about anything you wanted.

I'm sure there were ample unplanned assembling activities in the Woodstock area in the late 60's at a knife plant.

I'd sure like to visit with a few production employees that worked at the the plant in the 1960's and 70's. Many of them would be in their late 50's, 60's, and 70's by now.
 
Few more shots to give an idea on how this is put together.I'm thinking 58OT case with DE blades and springs. Fit is pretty good.

impot7.jpg


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impot8.jpg




Can you imagine what the members of this thread would have done on a Friday afternoon, if we were all working on the Old Timer line at Schrade in 1970? The orders were filled and we had a couple of hours to burn, the boss was flirting up in the front office. Lots of spare parts around. Could basically put together about anything you wanted
Click to expand...

I would have needed a very large lunchbox. And help carrying it.:)
 
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