When did Imperial get good?

http://www.collectors-of-schrades-r.us/FLYERS/IMPERIALS/knives/Pre-1980/pages/IK65-RB-1.htm

http://www.collectors-of-schrades-r.us/FLYERS/IMPERIALS/knives/Pre-1980/pages/DE-73-2-1.htm

In addition to the ones you are referring to, they made some nice ones too. The Diamond Edge examples are from the early 70's, and the others were from mid 60's.



Examples of both of these sport nice stainless razor blades and high quality Delrin scales. They stack up nicely against the Schrades from the same era. I have also picked up some Imperials from that time frame with nice blades and really bad handles. Yet others that pretty much sucked in both departments.

These knives probably cost $1.50 compared to $.50 back then (just a guess). Prior to that, you will occasionally see some very nice Imperials with bone handles that are very very high quality. I also see some incredible Imperial celluloid knives from time to time.

I think there used to be a lot more knife users than knife collectors in the 50's and 60's.

The Frontier series from the 70's were pretty nice knives too.
 
popcornpicker said:
When I was a kid (sixties) they were just cheap junk with plastic handles.
Click to expand...

Well, they say that beauty is in the eye of the beholder. I will agree that these knives were not built nearly as rugged as their solid-handled counterparts, but I would not consider them "cheap junk".

Imperial002.jpg

Imperial018.jpg

ImperialSRBS004.jpg

ImperialJM002.jpg


I find that the "guts" of these shell-handle knives are quite well-built, with strong springs, and the blade steel is very sharp.

However, the shell handles would dent easily, and these knives did not stand up to hard abuse.

Imperial made some very nice solid handle knives in the 30', 40's, then went through the shell handle stage for a few decades, and then like thawk said, they got back into offering the DE's and Frontiers in the 70's, etc.

Glenn
 
Nice knives guys!!

Here is one of the Double Eagles.....

67o8s4k.jpg


No matter if Imperial made them, or someone made them to Imperial's specs...a good, solid knife, IMO.

Bill
 
I with you guys on this one I dont know what it is about them but I just cant get enough, there is so many variations and neat old packaging avalible at a pretty reasonable price that I just cant resist. Although they seem to be going up a little on ebay.
-Joel
 
Nice Imperials, I've been collectin' old tinshell Imperials and Colonials when I started noticing better quality, sharp blades, nice patterns.

Because of the perception of being throwaway knives most were used to destruction, makin' mint examples increasingly more dificult to find for a reasonable price.

If I find one with full to near full blades and good backsprings, I buy it.:thumbup: :D
 
hi, in my opinion while the shell handled imperials were cheaply made they still cut pretty good and boy did they make some wild looking handles, that is lacking today.I went to a flea market awhile back and saw an imperial 5 inch blue green {the best way i could describe it is ocean blue]but the blade was broke off and i passed it by still wish i would have bought it, prettiest handlesi ever saw on a cheap imperial ,havent seen one on ebay yet just like it.thanks.
 
I love the old Imperial & Imperial Hammer Brands. If the blades are good I buy them. I then take the knife apart, replace everything except the blade & backspring. They make nice knives. The blades are good steel. I am doing one now that is an experiment in converting a Hammer shell into a stag handled birdseye. I will post the results when I finish.

I often experiment on my own knives before doing one for a customer. Besides then I have one to carry or sell.

Dale
 
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