Imperial and Hammer Brand celluloid

[313 Mike]

I just recently picked up these two knives in seperate auctions, the fist one is an Imperial that the tang stamp would indicate is from between 1946-1956. The second one is a Hammer Brand that the tang stamp would indicate if from between 1938-1941. I know that Imperial made the Hammer Brand knives as well. My question would be directed towards the handle scales, which appear to me to be indentical in composition and color. My best guess would be "yellow cracked ice" ? That would be the best way I would describe it anyways. Is there a specific name for this type or pattern of celluloid? Was it originally white, but just aged to yellow? Was it common for Imperial to use the same materials for both the Imperial and the Hammer Brand knives? Does the fact that they are both of the same material but from seperate lines indicate anything about the possible year of manufacture? Perhaps they used that material on the Hammer Brand line, and then rolled it over into the Imperial line after the war? any info anyone would like to share would be appreciated. I apologize wholeheartedly for the shady quality of the pics.
Mike

[Joe Dirt]

Hay Mike, those knives were built side by side in the same factory.
You'll find MANY of the handle materials on knives with either stamp.

Something I have noticed is that the shell handles with a shield are almost
exclusively stamped "Imperial" - of course there are exceptions. There are
a hand full of Hammer Brand stamped knives with a shield - pattern specific.
This observation DOESN'T work the other way around - a knife without a shield
doesn't always mean it will be a Hammer Brand.

Imperial called that material "Klearpearl." It was originally much whiter in
color and it tends to "amber" over time.

In the end, go by the stamp to date the knifes.

..... Joe

[TripleF]

The expert just answered!!

Knice knives Mike!

[313 Mike]

Great info Joe, thanks much for posting. Interesting the Klearpearl on both aged to the same shade of Amber from their original white even though they are from two different time periods. The Hammer Brand has great strong snap on both blades, and they sharpened up quite nicely. I really like both knives, have to keep my eyes open for some more of the Imperials or Hammers with the Klearpearl handles!

[Jeffrey]

Looks great! Love the Jack!

[Joe Dirt]

The attached photo shows a difference in the color of MOP celluloid.
Half of the piece of solid cell was sanded to remove the discoloration
that occurs over time. It is translucent and mounting it on a brass
liner gives it a "tint." I have discovered very thin white colored
"linings" under the scales on some knives with this color cell.
Knives with steel liners don't have linings under them - the reflective
nature of "new, unrusted or patina-ed" liners enhanced the color of
the material.

On the shell handle knives with the "Klearpearl," you will find some with
the backside painted white. This stopped the translucency of the material.
At some point in time, Imperial realised that rust and debris was getting
caught BETWEEN the shell and the wrap. This is one thing that added to the
discoloration of the handles.
I have only found this done on knives with the '45 - '55 stamp and later.


Thanks go to Perry, with his skills with the camera, for thaking this picture for me.

..... Joe

[313 Mike]

[Half of the piece of solid cell was sanded to remove the discoloration
that occurs over time. It is translucent and mounting it on a brass
liner gives it a "tint." I have discovered very thin white colored
"linings" under the scales on some knives with this color cell.
..... Joe[/quote]

Great info Joe, thanks for sharing it. Have you ever discovered linings of different colors besides white? Perhaps red or blue to give it a different appearance?

[313 Mike]

Here's another old Imperial cell that just arrived, has sort of a mottled goldish blackish reddish silvery type of thing going on...tang stamp dates it from 1956-88. I'm guessing more towards the earlier side of that time frame...