MAKER:   Imperial knife associated companies

PATTERN:   #44P1 Muskrat

LENGTH (Closed):   4”

BOLSTERS:   Nickel silver

SHIELD:   Powderhorn Frontier Shield

HANDLES: Jigged Delrin handles (were called stag handles in Imperial literature).

BLADES:   Two Slim muskrat clip blades

LINERS:   Brass

TANG STAMPS:   FRONTIER (over Powderhorn)

REAR TANG STAMP:   44P1/IMPERIAL/U.S.A.

CONDITION:   Near mint

DAMAGE:   Very Good

BLADE WEAR:   Approx 10%

SNAP:   Good

 

MADE IN:   U.S.A.

 

ADDITIONAL INFO:      The #44P1 muskrat with the jigged Delrin handles, (Imperial call them “stag” handles), was only made in 1976. All of the stag handles and most of the sunset yellow handles were produced only in 1976. I have no explanation for why that is, but the information published by Imperial shows that to be true. I believe this 44P1 muskrat pattern, though ¼” longer than the Old Timer 77OT muskrat, was created to be direct competition with the Old Timer 77OT.

 

The Frontier Series were designed very similarly to the Schrade Old Timers series and were direct competition to Schrade. Both Imperial and Schrade were part of IKAC, Imperial Knife Associated Companies, and they were essentially in competition with one another between the Schrade Old Timer series in the Imperial Frontier series. In 1984 Albert Baer purchased all of the outstanding IKAC stock and renamed the company Imperial Schrade Corporation, (ISC). If you study the Frontier series you will find that in 1985, the year after Albert Baer took over complete ownership of the company, he dropped all of the Frontier patterns that had survived the cuts in 1984. My theory is it was too much direct competition with Old Timer and Uncle Henry knives. A number of the patterns the Frontier series were sized so they competed directly with the Old Timer series. There were 10 different Frontier folding patterns and seven fixed blade patterns. Within the 10 folding patterns there were 43 variations of handle material and blade combinations within the 10 patterns of the Imperial Frontier Series. None of those patterns were listed beyond 1985. My theory is Albert Baer wanted to get rid of them so he could concentrate on making and selling his Old Timer and Uncle Henry series.

 

*By Purchasing, The Buyer Confirms It Is Legal For Them Purchase And Own This Knife.

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Item # 28094