shell handled knives

[313 Mike]

Here's an old Hammer Brand from 1938--1941, still snaps like an alligator, even my wife likes this one!
Mike

[gino]

Wow, I can tell why she likes it Mike that is sweeeet!

[singin46]

Great finds Edge and Mike!

[TripleF]

Knice Mike!

[edgy46]

Nice one Mike.

[whitebuffalo58]

Got three new ones recently. A Hammer Brand Barlow with colorful handles.

A small 2-blade fob jack with tutone handles and both blades marked Made in Germany. I've got a few German shells, but this is the first with the tutone handles.

And, a solid black Imperial pen.

WB

[singin46]

Hey WB, that first one is pretty hard to find in decent condition.

[whitebuffalo58]

Thanks Perry! They are tough ones, but still get lucky and find one once in awhile. I think it's gonna take center stage on the JackMaster board Joe sent me.

WB

[singin46]

Should look killer on that card!

[edgy46]

Thats a stunning barlow W.B.

[trutemper]

Thanks Scott
With the shells nearing one hundred I am trying to quit, but this one at three dollars followed me home anyway.

Whoaaaaaa Bill.....that sure is a pretty knife!!!!Nice find!

Bob

[gino]

Bill, that is sweet I never saw that handle before! Very COOL! ;;DROOL::
Mike, that is a beauty! ::DROOL::
WB, NICE those are great! I like that split handle one a lot!
I dig them all guys!

[whitebuffalo58]

Thanks Bill! Thanks Gino!

WB

[Joe Dirt]

Those are some uncommon colors guys! NICE!!!

Here's something for Glennbad with his amazing collection of Tu-Tones.

This also gives some info. that has been eluding us for a while now.

The Imperial Stainless stamp (as these have) now has 1 date to associate with it!
It is no younger than 1956.

Oh yea, this also confirms that they WERE advertised to "Match Your Car..."
That had ALMOST become a rumor.

Also, while searching a patent (can't remember for what), I stumbled across
the patent for the Tu-Tone ink pen knives. They were patented by none other
than Albert Bear in 1959!!
(The ink pen knives have carbon blades.)

...... Joe

[whitebuffalo58]

Cool ad Joe! But, is my math off? 2 dozen selling at $1 each is $24, but the assortment costs $29? What am I missing?

WB

[edgy46]

This one fell into my pocket today 3 7/16" closed marked Hammer Brand. Now I have two Hammers with a shield.

[singin46]

Great ad Joe!

[whitebuffalo58]

Real nice one Bill! Is that blue and green or blue and yellow?
I did some back tracking to see what i'd missed on this thread. WOW! Love those snakeskins, guys! I won't be able to rest 'till I find one of those in a toothpick pattern!
Here's another lucky find. A '46-'56 Imperial stockman with copper/bronze skins.

WB

[313 Mike]

That's a great lookin' old stockman there WB! Is that a medium or a large...?

[whitebuffalo58]

Thanks Mike! It's 3-1/2" closed, they did make a 4" model with squared bolsters.

WB

[edgy46]

Thanks W B
Nice golden stockman you have there.

Here is a better pic of the handles. sorry about the sock

[glennbad]

Those are some uncommon colors guys! NICE!!!

Here's something for Glennbad with his amazing collection of Tu-Tones.

This also gives some info. that has been eluding us for a while now.

The Imperial Stainless stamp (as these have) now has 1 date to associate with it!
It is no younger than 1956.

Oh yea, this also confirms that they WERE advertised to "Match Your Car..."
That had ALMOST become a rumor.

Also, while searching a patent (can't remember for what), I stumbled across
the patent for the Tu-Tone ink pen knives. They were patented by none other
than Albert Bear in 1959!!
(The ink pen knives have carbon blades.)

...... Joe

Thanks Joe! The only mention I had ever seen of one in an Imperial catalog was one tutone in a mixed card. That's a great find!

Glenn

[whitebuffalo58]

I knew I had posted this story somewhere, I finally came across where it was. Some of you that frequent the other forums may have seen this already, thought i'd post it here for those that havn't. Here's the front of the knife.

Here's the story.

My Grandpa bought this knife for my collection back around 1970 from an antique store out in Wichita KS. Even though the story that went with it was fun, there was no written documentation and he always asured me that he paid no high premium for it. I've always taken the tale with a grain of salt, you should too. It goes like this. The movie "My Little Chickadee" starring W.C. Fields and Mae West was released around 1941. It was a great box office hit. Supposedly in the early part of 1942, W.C. Fields buisiness manager took it on himself to order 10 knives to commemorate the success of the movie. He contacted Imperial who agreed to make the knives using images from the movie. The managers intention was to give a knife to each of the key figures involved in making the movie. (W.C., Miss West, director, producer, etc...) After the knives arrived the manager presented the first one to Mr. Fields. While he stood admireing the knife the manager explained to him what he intended to do with the other knives. At first W.C. seemed pleased, until...he turned the knife over and saw the image on the other side. He immediately bulled up, threw the knife at his manager and in his very best W.C. Fields voice exclaimed, "Burn 'em all"! Seems the somewhat outspoken Mr. Fields had no great love for the ravishing and equally outspoken Miss West and beyond their interaction in the movie, had no desire to have any further association with her. PERIOD! The angry and disappointed manager, not wanting to destroy the knives, decided instead to give the knives to some of the people lower down the pay scale that were involved in making the movie. (lighting, sound, grips, etc...) One of these folks had family who lived in or around Wichita. They sent the knife back home to his/her folks. The knife spent the next few years being handed down through the family until it eventually ended up in the antique store where Gramps bought it. No clue as to what might have happened to the other 9. Well, there you have it. The story of the 1942 Imperial Fields/West Toothpick. I've spent many, many hours trying to prove (or disprove) this story. With no record it remains just another fun story involving a knife. Doesn't really matter though. For me, the knife is priceless and one that I hope to hand down to my kids and grandkids. Thanks for taking the time to read this tale, hope you enjoy it.

And, here's the back of the knife.

A couple of things to add. One is the odd tang stamp, it is the italics form, but with a dotted "i" rather then the crown. The other is that I did do a hot pin test, and the wraps are definetly celluloid. Neither of these things proves or disproves the story, just things i've found while searching for the "rest of the story".

WB

[PigSticker]

Cool story--don't think they used the crown till after the war or the 50's--nice old shell

[Iron Hoarder]

Cool ad Joe! But, is my math off? 2 dozen selling at $1 each is $24, but the assortment costs $29? What am I missing?

WB

Looks like it was a mechanical display that you could refill so the first but cost more than the refills probably did.