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100,000 A Day.....

Posted: Sat Feb 09, 2019 6:56 pm
by WillyCamaro
I think it is time to start a thread recognising a underappreciated knife company that I have had the pleasure of collecting for a while now. I'll give you a guess, it has something to do with the title. Also they were from Provincial Rhode Island. Their name started with I.
You guessed it, Imperial knives. According to Blade's Guide To Knives (Great read by the way) by 1940 they were making over 100,000 knives a day. You heard me, 100,000! And they were all high quality working knives, hence hard to find in new and excellent condition. Also I learned from blade that surveys held way back found most pocket knives lasted around 2 weeks. They were used that hard. I have managed to pickup a few these last months. Cheap, razor sharp, easy to sharpen, like new condition, what's not to like. I think they are still way underrated for the quality/price. I know by reading here on aapk, a lot of ya nice fellars' and missis' have a few stashed away in the cold dark recesses of storage. I think its time to pull em out, dust them off, and give the recognition they deserve.
Here's to start the ball rollin',
Like new Imperial USA Provincial Rhode Island, 2 Blade, 2 7/8", Pearl Celluloid, Slim Jack. Sellers photos of course.

Re: 100,000 A Day.....

Posted: Sat Feb 09, 2019 7:05 pm
by WillyCamaro
Very Good Imperial USA Provincial Rhode Island 2 3/4", Stag Celluloid, Slim Stockman. A bit of main blade play, looks to be sharpened maybe once, can see original finish on blades. Sellers photos of course.

Re: 100,000 A Day.....

Posted: Sat Feb 09, 2019 7:06 pm
by WillyCamaro
2 more pictures of same knife.

Re: 100,000 A Day.....

Posted: Sat Feb 09, 2019 7:10 pm
by tongueriver
Here are some.
Imps002.jpg
Just got this one.
imp1.jpg

Re: 100,000 A Day.....

Posted: Sat Feb 09, 2019 7:21 pm
by Quick Steel
WC you definitely have some good looking Imperials. ::tu::

Re: 100,000 A Day.....

Posted: Sat Feb 09, 2019 7:25 pm
by tongueriver
Quick Steel wrote:WC you definitely have some good looking Imperials. ::tu::
X2!

Re: 100,000 A Day.....

Posted: Sat Feb 09, 2019 7:53 pm
by cody6268
Even more amazing that in 1940, they likely did not have the automation a modern cutlery factory has today. My favorite is the Medium Jack with a Turkish clip blade.

Here's an older (1960s?) Kamp King that I've carried quite regularly.
DSCF0790.JPG

Re: 100,000 A Day.....

Posted: Sat Feb 09, 2019 8:58 pm
by FRJ
Here's a little Imperial pen.

Re: 100,000 A Day.....

Posted: Sat Feb 09, 2019 9:03 pm
by FRJ
Here's an oldie!

Re: 100,000 A Day.....

Posted: Sat Feb 09, 2019 9:56 pm
by jerryd6818
Some now. More later.

Re: 100,000 A Day.....

Posted: Sun Feb 10, 2019 12:11 am
by WillyCamaro
Hey Guys, great knives! You said it cody ::tu:: Just gettin' started boys.
Next one to make the call,
NIB Imperial USA Provincial Rhode Island 3 3/8", Brown Slashed Composition, Barlow "Bath Advertising". I got super lucky on this bad boy. Original box is even in great shape. Seller even took best offer of $20. Score!

Re: 100,000 A Day.....

Posted: Sun Feb 10, 2019 12:13 am
by WillyCamaro
More pictures...

Re: 100,000 A Day.....

Posted: Sun Feb 10, 2019 12:22 am
by WillyCamaro
NIB Frontier Imperial USA Provincial Rhode Island 4034 2 7/8" Black Composition Slim Stockman "Beckley Coal". Same story as barlow.

Re: 100,000 A Day.....

Posted: Sun Feb 10, 2019 12:24 am
by WillyCamaro
More pictures...

Re: 100,000 A Day.....

Posted: Sun Feb 10, 2019 1:01 am
by Miller Bro's
Just to clarify something, as I see you are located in Canada, Prov. is an abbreviation for Providence not provincial.

Providence ,Rhode Island is a state in New England, U.SA. ::tu::

Nice knives you are posting!

Re: 100,000 A Day.....

Posted: Sun Feb 10, 2019 1:09 am
by Doc B
Providence is a city in the state of Rhode Island. It is also the capitol of RI

Re: 100,000 A Day.....

Posted: Sun Feb 10, 2019 1:22 am
by WillyCamaro
Thank you Miller!

Re: 100,000 A Day.....

Posted: Sun Feb 10, 2019 1:29 am
by TripleF
It is amazing to ponder such mass production....and such quality steel!
Making knives like Hershey made candy bars!!
I love both!!

Re: 100,000 A Day.....

Posted: Sun Feb 10, 2019 6:15 pm
by WillyCamaro
You said it TripleF! ::tu::
Next one on the list,
Imperial Ireland APEX, 2 Blade, Pen Stockman & Sodbuster. Pen knife looks to be in new condition, sodbuster needs a good cleaning but looks to be in pretty good condition.
Plus seller took $12 for both. 8) Score!

Re: 100,000 A Day.....

Posted: Sun Feb 10, 2019 6:21 pm
by WillyCamaro
Again,
1 of 20 Imperial Providence Rhode Island, 12k gold filled, filed scales, gents keychain, penknife. Super lucky to find this one. Pretty rare, and in great shape to boot. Seller even took best offer, $20.00!
Score again!

Re: 100,000 A Day.....

Posted: Sun Feb 10, 2019 6:28 pm
by WillyCamaro
Next,
Imperial USA Stainless, 2 1/4", striped celluloid, lobster penknife. I really liked this one, nice shape, neat looking scales. And best part $10.00 to boot. :D

Re: 100,000 A Day.....

Posted: Sun Feb 10, 2019 7:37 pm
by KnifeSlinger#81
I have a few imperials. I really like the ones with the 1936-1952 stamp such as this scout pattern. The ones of this era have some of the most thinly ground blades from the factory I've ever seen, they sharpen and cut very well.
IMG_0868.JPG

Re: 100,000 A Day.....

Posted: Sun Feb 10, 2019 11:39 pm
by Reverand
Good knives!
Here are a few of mine, starting with the knife I’ve re-handled, done in cedar wood. I made several mistakes, but keep it in my EDC rotation as a reminder of those mistakes. I get a little better with every knife.
927168D8-1190-434A-9EB8-9B3D65192653.jpeg
I painted the shell handles of this blue one. The other two are genuine MOTS!
D7CD4A50-E785-483C-A939-307BB55BA09E.jpeg
A couple of Official Boy scout sets:
B73C3EC5-5581-459D-9562-15E1025911FC.jpeg
And one camper. It says “Timberline” on the other side, but the Imperial tang stamp is only visible here on the pile-side of the main.

Re: 100,000 A Day.....

Posted: Mon Feb 11, 2019 1:00 am
by Scale Military
Ohhhhhhhhhhhh! Nice knife Knifeslniger! That's one knife pattern I'm going to be buying in the future! ::tu::

Re: 100,000 A Day.....

Posted: Mon Feb 11, 2019 2:29 am
by zoogirl
WillyCamaro wrote:Again,
1 of 20 Imperial Providence Rhode Island, 12k gold filled, filed scales, gents keychain, penknife. Super lucky to find this one. Pretty rare, and in great shape to boot. Seller even took best offer, $20.00!
Score again!
Ooooh, Willy! I do love the little ‘jewelry knives’! That’s a beauty!