Stag & Steer Head Knives - Imperial, Ulster, Kingston

Codger_64

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Among the motifs of novelty knives I have run across while researching the Imperial Knife Associated Companies, I keep finding the recurrent theme of carved appearing deer elk and moose heads in stagged plastic handles of both folding and fixed knives. In one or two instances, the style has been carried over into the Boy Scouts Of America shield emblem. The impression of “carving” is enhanced in some cases by artful selective dying and buffing, and in others by a contrasting dye of the entire art, or of the handle area around the art.

Which example is the earliest use, I have not yet been able to decipher. Kingston knives are seen with the “Stag’s Head” motif. Supposedly Kingston dissolved circa 1947, but actually was continued as a trade stamp until some time in the early 1960's.



Just post-WWII, Imperial (read “Baer”) made a forray into Mexico with the intent of manufacturing there. I have several examples of these knives marked “Imperial / Hecho en Mexico”.



Ulster also produced a stag head motif knives. These appear in the circa 1960-61 catalogs.



The 1959 Imperial Jackmaster catalog lists and illustrates “Kameo Karved” knives with simulated stag handles, simulated pearl and simulated buffalo horn. Also listed and illustrated are knives with steer head motif. These also with the same three handle styles. They were offered on a counter display card of a dozen assorted knives with the two motifs in three handle material styles: Stagged plastic, simulated buffalo horn, and simulated pearl.





While I have examples of the Ulster and Imperial, Imperial Mexico’s, I haven’t gotten a Kingston yet. And I finally found a Kameo Karved Imperial 685KP simulated pearl.



The Stag “karved” motif was also copied by Colonial, most particularly the “moose” fixed blade hunting knife. This is an Imperial “Husky Camp Set”.





No, these were not high end knives. All of them were relatively inexpensive and meant to catch the eye of young boys with their hunting-western motifs. But I find even these cheap novelty knives to be interesting from a cutlery history standpoint. Eventually I hope to compile some more accurate date and pattern information, and build a representative display of the type.

Michael
 
codger I was watching the white imperial with the blue longhorn on it a couple of weeks ago or so , didint bid just thought it was an iteresting knife, I assume you won it. great info as usual. Joel
 
Yes, you assumed correctly. I still have a few of the different handle materials to find examples of. Neat older knives, no great value in them, and not fantastic quality of materials or fit and finish. Just good dollar knives from days gone by. This example is not the most appealing color/handle material combo, but they aren't around by the fistfulls.

Michael
 
The Stag’s Head “Kameo Karved” pocket knives of the IKAC companies seemed to be a popular sales item in the mid to late 1950's and through the mid 1960's. Naturally, Imperial made an attempt to transfer some of this success of the popular “themed” pocket knives to their fixed blade line.



The 8 3/4" H-50 “Stag Head” plain blade hunting knife is shown in the 1959 Imperial catalog. The sabre ground blade is listed as being 5 inches long, high carbon cutlery steel, hardened, tempered and hand edged. The knife is full tanged with two brass compression rivets securing the faux stag plastic handles, and a flat oval steel guard.. It came with a riveted and sewn leather sheath. A variant, the H-51, added a serrated fish scaler along the back of the blade. Several color variations have been seen including brown, red, orange, tan, white and black.



Never a company to sell just one of an item when a set can be sold, also offered was a two knife “Stag Head Hunting and Camping Knife Combination”, the HK-3550 “Kombo Set”, and the variant HK-3551 with the HK-51 scaler blade. Both sets included a 3 11/16" “Kamp King” four blade utility knife, and a special sheath with a leather pocket sewn onto the front for the pocket knife. An added snap strap secured the Kamp King through it’s lanyard ring to the sheath. “A Sportsman’s Delight! Serves Every Outdoor Knife need!”

Or did it?

If two sales is good, then three are better. Thus the HK-5043 “Field & Stream Set” which added a two blade H-943Y fishing knife to the “Kombo Set” in a cellophane windowed box. “A beautifully packaged Sportsman’s Set which gives him a knife for every possible Sporting and Camping Need.”

Or did it?

Enter the K-2 “BIG 3 HUNTING AND FISHING SET”. Now we have the “Kombo Set” packaged with a 14" wood handled 1 lb. hand axe. This one evolved into the “Husky Set” with matching handled hand axe, and sheaths which mated via a pair of snaps, and could be separated for individual carry.



Sure, they are flamboyant in today’s tastes. And they were intended to be inexpensive knives enticing gift givers and young folks. But they are nice cutlery history trivia pieces.




Here is a Colonial Copy:




Codger
 
I remember receiving the Husky set by Imperial as my 1st hunting knife when I was about 11. IIRC it was given to me sans packaging and with 2 seperate sheaths. I don't remember them being able to be connected. I still have the knife and sheath but the hatchet has gone MIA. It's probably still at my dad's somewhere. I haven't used it in years but did just recently find it again while puttering in the basement. Coincidental timing on your article. Nice work.
 
Glad you liked it. Also coincidentally, I just found a Kingston Stag Head Jack to go with my Imperial and Ulster examples. No sets yet. Really don't have room to store or display them. I do have the Sportsman's Knife set with the plainer handles and the Kamp King in the sheath, but no box for them.

Nostalgia. Like my "You Pal Always" Gene Autry wristwatch. Perhaps we are collecting memories of our culture more so than knives.

Michael
 
codger- Just found this ulster on ebay. didint want to post the auction itself cause it may get me in trouble, but just wondering if this helped your stag and steer head reserch.-Joel
 
I just posted this picture in another thread but maybe you can add keen kutter to ulster imperial and kingston. just a thought.- Joel
 
Yes, I can always use better illustrations of details of these knives. I'm still looking for more info on the Mexico connection. I think it may have something to do with Monteray, perhaps Boker Mexico, or Mr. Foster who imported plastics injection molding machines to the U.S. via Mexico to circumvent a major U.S. plastics manufacturer's ban on the importation of the machines from Europe. Foster as in Foster-Grant sunglasses. He happened to be a pal of Albert Baer's.

Michael
 
You all always have such great information and outstanding and interesting photos of your collections here to help me to further my education on this historic vintage cutlery. Just wanted to say thanks for that.

Anthony
 
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