shell handled knives

[TripleF]

Cool stuff Glenn!

I gotta post this Hammer Brand Kamp KIng

[garddogg56]

Scott;love those Kamp Kings they have great 1095 steel

[singin46]

Nice Kamp Kings guys! Here's mine of today.
Someone would slap me if I didn't put it in here.
SHAZAM!

[whitebuffalo58]

Some right fine shells fellers!
Here's a couple that i'm pretty fond of. They're both hand painted. I've been told Imperial commissioned local R.I. artists to paint the different motifs, then they were sent out to be screen printed with various destinations. The Chief has Columbus, Ohio on the back, no wording on the other one, but it may have worn off over the years. I've seen others with waterfalls marked for Niagra Falls and beaches with palm trees marked for florida and one that was painted with a pine tree branch and pinecones marked for Colorado. I've had several over the years, but the Native American ones are the only ones i've kept around.

WB

[singin46]

On these, condition is everything and these are in near mint! Sweet Ingans!

[glennbad]

Some right fine shells fellers!
Here's a couple that i'm pretty fond of. They're both hand painted. I've been told Imperial commissioned local R.I. artists to paint the different motifs, then they were sent out to be screen printed with various destinations. The Chief has Columbus, Ohio on the back, no wording on the other one, but it may have worn off over the years. I've seen others with waterfalls marked for Niagra Falls and beaches with palm trees marked for florida and one that was painted with a pine tree branch and pinecones marked for Colorado. I've had several over the years, but the Native American ones are the only ones i've kept around.

SANY0005-001.JPG

WB

Very nice. I have one in this style, but it's Miami, FL, I think. And it doesn't look as nice as your examples. I always wondered if they were done at the plant or local to where they were sold.

Glenn

[whitebuffalo58]

Thanks Perry, Glenn! I've never been able to varify the information, but it's always seemed valid. I can't imagine the program lasted very long or that it would have been very profitable for any of the parties concerned. I've always wondered if they might have been painted by students at an art school. I like the idea of 'em being hand painted, but believe any artist should sign their work. No signatures on any i've ever come across.

WB

[TripleF]

Pics don't do this knife justice.....

[jerryd6818]

Advertising writers crack me up. What the heck? Are there people out there making a knock off product that isn't vinyl but looks like it? I guess you have to fill the space with something and having a "Genuine Vinyl Sheath" makes it sound more desirable.

[whitebuffalo58]

LOL! Does kinda make ya wonder what the alternative would be, doesn't it Jerry? I always liked the ones that used the term, "Genuine Imitation Leather".

WB

[glennbad]

Well, can't let this slip to page 2.

Here's a little Tuxedo pattern (I guess that's what it's called) Imperial.



Glenn

[singin46]

That's a nice one Glenn!

[TripleF]

Pat Nos. are the only identification on this shell

[glennbad]

I like that cell, Trip!

Glenn

[singin46]

Hey Scott, nice little Vest Pockets!

[garddogg56]

Well, can't let this slip to page 2.

Here's a little Tuxedo pattern (I guess that's what it's called) Imperial.



Glenn

Glenn is that SS if so I have one like it Sunday knife

[glennbad]

I don't have it in front of me to check, but I don't recall it saying stainless on it.

That would make a nice Sunday knife though.

Glenn

[oldgoat1911]

This is one great topic. I recently picked up what I believe is a 1930's toothpick for .99 plus $ 2.00 shipping. Its got a lot of patina and the scales appear to have shrunk. It is 5 inches long closed with nearly a 4 inch blade that is mighty sharp. Thought it has a different pattern on the scales. Thanks for looking. i thought it might be of interest....Herb

[singin46]

Hey Herb, while this is not a shell handled Imperial, it is a very nice and early solid celluloid toothpick.
It has an earlier tang stamp. 1930 to 36'! Nice

[Joe Dirt]

That's a SWEET one, Herb! Reminds me of the spiders!

...... Joe

[singin46]

Yep, it does.

[edgy46]

Picked up this one Friday. My first shell handled sheath knife. The sheath fits well enough to be original, but I am not sure. It is marked Hammer Brand. Hope this is not too far off topic.

[whitebuffalo58]

Nice one, Bill! I can't say for sure about the sheath, but I do know they used a wide variety of them for the shell handled fixed blades. There's a good chance that one is original to the knife.

WB

[jerryd6818]

I didn't realize it until I got it home and started looking at it that this one is a shell handle. I love that Richards tang stamp and that's the only reason I bought it. (and of course the fact that I got it for $3 ) The blade is so worn it doesn't even raise the spring when you open and close it and of course there's zero snap. Under close examination, the blade appears to have been sharpened only once and then very lightly. I have to ask who opens and closes a blade on a pipe knife, so many times it wears out the blade back but the blade doesn't need sharpening? The difference in the pipe stem tool (which has a slight amount of snap) and the blade, at the spring, is readily apparent. What the heck?

[whitebuffalo58]

Another classic example of a total failure to "OIL THE JOINTS"! Pretty neat little knife, none the less, Jerry. I like the lampost stamp Richards used, too. If I were to guess, i'd say whoever owned it, wasn't into maintaining their knives. They just used it. Scrapping a pipe bowl, probably didn't require a razor sharp edge, so no real need to sharpen it alot. Nice example of the Richards stamp and great pic!

WB