the FRONTIER Series

[woseyjales]

I recently received my first Frontier
series knife, 4432 Stockman in Ol' Ivory grips.
Looks about like an 8OT plus swedge and long pull.
I think I'd like to see some more in the gunpowder black,
powder horn stag (lon), and sundown yeller.

[justold52]

I have a set of them.

[ozzie marie]

Here's a few Frontier sets I've picked up over the years.

Kentucky Bicentennial & All Americans

Keith

[orvet]

Nice Imperials!
Some were made in the Imperial factory in Providence RI and a good many were made by Camillus.
I don't know how many were made where, but I do know that Camillus made some (if not all) of the All American series.

Dale

[glenn]

WJ are those made of stainless?

[BIGHEAD]

WJ are those made of stainless?

I ain't WJ but No sir

[woseyjales]

Glenn, as I understand it from
visiting the Frontier section in the mighty fine
Schrades R Us archives, only the fish fillet knives
were stainless (and available flexible or rigid blade).
Rest of the Frontiers have special hi-carbon cutlery steel.

[orvet]

Most of the lockbacks were stainless, IIRC.
As you can see in this scan, the 4515s were stainless.
As I recall all of the Double Eagle series with the laminated wood handles & brass bolsters were stainless.
The 4515s & the 4435 (both shown below) are part of the Double Eagle series.
The advertising called them "High Carbon Rust Resistant Steel," i.e.; stainless.

The All American series like the AA51 shown below were also stainless.
As far as I know, Camillus made all of the All American series.
They also made some of the other patterns and some were made in Providence at the Imperial plant.
Some patterns were no doubt made in both plants, at different times.

I have a bunch of the Frontier knives. If I get time & can figure how to post some spread sheets, or have Bryan put them in the Research Section, then we can all see the info I have.

Dale

[ozzie marie]

Here's a display of Imperial Frontier "DIAMONDBRITE" Stainless Steel knives with Birch inlays from 1982.

Keith

[thawk]

I'll try to liven this thread up a bit too. Here is a Frontier two blade hunter and his cousin:

[Aimus Moses]

Good comparison between the two thawk. Besides the delrin handles and the shields being different, the Diamond Edge has the New Grind (Case coined the name New Grind, not me) on it's blades where the tang and blade meet. Nice knives.

Aimus

[woseyjales]

In 1978 Imperial added some 'Double Eagle'
lockbacks to the Frontier series.
Here is an example of the smallest 3" model 4715.
Found it floating in the 'Bay.

[woseyjales]

Here's the second Double Eagle I found floating in the 'Bay. (day after the 4715 Lkbk)
Model #4135, lil brother to the 4435 Orvet posted earlier.

[FRJ]

This is my Frontier "series", with a couple of hangers on. Well made knives, all.

[tongueriver]

My notes at the time: Double Eagle Folding Hunter, measuring 5 1/4" overall. Has two stainless steel blades, one with the Double Eagle etch. And one blade is secured in the open position by the old fashioned 'press here' liner lock. It's the model 4625... The forty six referring to the pattern, the '2' signifying the two blades, and the '5' meaning that it has hardwood, stabilized handles. Included is the unique packaging these were shipped in for a short while; A little white cotton bag with instructions. Main clip blade is stamped FRONTIER, and picture of powder horn. Blade etched FRONTIER, and Double Eagle, with picture of two eagles inside a circle, and TM. On the other side of the same blade is tang stamped 4625/ IMPERIAL/ STAINLESS. Vertically aligned to the right is U./S./A. The brass liner lock works on this blade. The secondary blade has no liner lock and is a large spear. This type is very unusual in a 5.25 inch hunter pattern. The crescent nail nicks are fairly near the blade tips, rather up at the crest of the spine. The bolsters are yellow brass and have no lanyard hole. The one bolster has a cut out to access the liner lock PRESS area.

[orvet]

Here is a little Frontier I got in the mail last week.

Model #AA-31; 3 inches; ss blade; nickel silver bolsters & liners.
I like the shield that says 'The All Americans'.
This is a solid little knife.

Dale

[TDCase]

Got me one of those 4515's coming in the mail. First Frontier for me and I can't wait to get it. Will post pics when it arrives. I didn't really know much about these until I read about them here! TD

[TDCase]

How long were the 4515's made? Thanks TD ....

[orvet]

TD,
I don't know the dates.
Perhaps Larry (LRV) or Eric (ea42) knows.

Dale

[TDCase]

Dale - Thanks... I thought they were made from the mid 70's through early 80's but I'm not sure. I'll see if Larry or Eric respond or maybe I'll pm one of them. Anyway, it's a cool EDC. Thanks, TD

[orvet]

I just found a list with the dates.
The 4515 was made from 1979 to 1986.

I thought I had the info somewhere.
I had some time so I looked for it.

This should help, as I think most of the models are included on here.

Dale

[TDCase]

Dale - Thanks bud I'm going to save this one. I'm looking forward to adding a few more of the Frontier knives.... TD

[gino]

TD where did you get yours from? I might like having me one too.

[TDCase]

Hi Gino, I won mine on ebay and it was the first one I've ever bid on. I haven't seen many for trade or sale here so that's when I looked on ebay. I received mine on Friday and I just got back from being out of town this weekend. Overall I really like the knife. It's a great EDC. Mine was in good condition but not mint and it didn't come with the box. Let me know if you get one! later, TD.....

[orvet]

They were pretty common on ebay about 5 years ago.
I bought a lot of then. With a quick check I probably have about 50 of them.
Maybe I can get more pics up of them and put a bunch in my store in a month or so, (too many other things going on at the moment).
The Frontiers seem to be popular as users and many of the used ones you find have some blade loss.
People seemed to like them and use them, much like the Old Timers.

I think Schrade dropped the Frontiers in the mid-1980s after Albert Baer got full control of Imperial.
They were probably too much direct competition with the Old Timers which was Schrade's bread-n-butter line. That is my theory and I know others agree with that consensus.

Dale