Need help identifying knife

[dewman]

Several years ago, while bumming around in Northern Idaho, I bought this little knife. I had forgotten about it untill rummaging around in a seldom used drawer and....viola! Can anyone give me any information on it? On one tang it says "Frontier" and on the other it says "Imperial USA". Didn't Schrade make some knives under the Imperial moniker?
Is it of any particular interest or value?

Thanks for any help.
Dewman

[orvet]

You have a Frontier made by Imperial.
IIRC, Camillus actually made some of the folders . When Schrade & Imperial merged it was decided that the Frontiers took too many sales away from the Old Timer line & so the Frontiers were discontinued. That was a shame, because they are great knives.

Phil is our resident expert on them. He will no doubt be along and tell you all about it.

In the mean time, does it have a model number on it?
I see the number
It is a Utility Hunter, 7-7/8" overall, 3-5/8 in. fixed blade, Carbon steel.
They are really good knives! Phil, I and a few others do collect them.

Dale

[Hukk]

DANG, I like it. Nice graceful curve along the spine/tang. Looks like it was made to fit well for some serious work.

[Bob W.]

I can't comment on that particular knife, but this caught my eye:

...so the Frontiers were discontinued.

Imperial-Schrade did have Frontier brand knives made at their Ireland factory until it closed in March 2004. The quality of the Irish Frontiers, based on the knives I've fondled, was very very low.

-Bob

[dewman]

The knife in the photos I posted says "Imperial U.S.A." on the tang along with the patern #412. The quality of this particular knife, as far as fit and finish seems to be very good in my "not so professional opinion".

[orvet]

I can't comment on that particular knife, but this caught my eye:

...so the Frontiers were discontinued.

Imperial-Schrade did have Frontier brand knives made at their Ireland factory until it closed in March 2004. The quality of the Irish Frontiers, based on the knives I've fondled, was very very low.

-Bob

Here is a copy of a catalog page that shows dewman's knife. The 412 sold for $10.95 in 1977.

The Frontiers I was speaking of were the "Frontier Series" made by Camillus (in the USA) for Imperial/Schrade.

The whole "Frontier Series" was discontinued about 1978 or 1979. Phil, (Gr8scout), would know for sure. I believe Schrade brought back the Frontier name in the 1980s after they bought or built the Stag factory in Listow, Ireland.

The Irish made Frontiers are entirely different knives, different patterns, different material & (for the most part) lower quality, although they did make some knives in Ireland that were of decent quality, especially for the price, IMO.

The Irish Frontier are like Hammer Brand was. Imperial got the Hammer Brand name from New York Knife after NYK went out of business. Imperial made tons of cheaper shell handle knives with the Hammer Brand on them. By the days standards (then) they were real cheapies. Now some of them sell well into 3 figures, though when new, many were considerably less than $1.00.

The Irish Frontier brand, was a case of Schrade using a known name, that had some loyal customers, to establish a new line of cheaper knives. This has happened numerous times in the history of the American Cutlery Industry.

I have 60 or so knives of the Frontier Series (made by Camillus) and the steel is excellent. I think most of them were carbon steel, but the Frontier Double Eagle series, were all stainless. As a rule I don't like stainless, but ironically it was a stainless steel 4515 (lockback Sportsman) that got me interested in the whole Frontier series.

Dale

[Cinco0219]

Years ago I had a couple of these knives in stainless which I used for filleting fish. Ergonomically, they were well designed. Even though they were stainless they tended to develop pits, other wise they were hell for stout.

[orvet]

Hold the phone. It appears I was mistaken about Camillus making the Frontier Series. According to Tom Williams Camillus made the All Americans, which bore a Frontier tang stamp, he does not recall them making the Frontier Series I posted above.

They were probably discontinued in the mid 1980s and not the late 1970s as I had originally posted.

For a couple years I had thought that Camillus made the Frontier Series. Now it appears that they were made at the Imperial plant in RI. Larry is doing some checking on it.

I just did not want to mislead anyone, even unknowingly.

That is one of the things the makes this hobby so interesting, just when you thing you have something pegged, you get some new info that upsets the applecart! What a great hobby!

Dale

[justold52]

Both have # 412
I would have be-leaved that it was Camillus.

Thanks of the correction.

[dewman]

This site is like having an entire library of knife information and literature! Thanks for the information on this particular knife. I know it isn't anything of particular value, but I do like it's shape and looks. My wife laid claim to it quite some time ago. It has been on her belt along with her holster for her Ruger SP 101 and laying in a seldom used drawer for several years. The knife has never been used or even sharpened....but she thought it was "pretty" so she asked if she could put it on her belt "in case a bear attacked her".

So....what was I to do?

Again, many thanks for your untiring efforts in identifying this knife and giving me some info on it.

Dewman