Hey guys....need help identifying an old folder.

[dewman]

My wife is back in Kansas visiting her mother. She told me her Dad, a Kansas wheat farmer, who passed away many years ago, always used to carry this "little pocket knife". I asked her to see if her Mother still had it, and if so, bring it back.
Well, I talked to her on the phone last night and she said they found it.
It's about 3" long, stag (bone) handles with two blades on the same end.
According to my wife, it's "real pretty", but in dire need of cleaning and such.
On one tang, it reads "Imperial, Providece, R.I." and a bunch of numbers "patent numbers?" on the other.

I'm assuming the knife is at least 30 years old or so. Anyone care to venture a guess as to the pedigree of this thing?

Thanks

Dewman

[muskrat man]

probably pre WWII if it is an imperial with real bone handles.

[dewman]

....forgot to mention. She said it had a crown inside a circle on one of the blade tangs.

[El Lobo]

Imperial was a huge producer of knives, mostly, but not only, known for it's shell handled knives.
The company eventually became part of Imperial Schrade.
Show us some pictures, if you can, when you get it in hand.

Bill

[dewman]

Will do.

[useem]

Hi dewman. I have one with the same tang stamp ( Imperial U
Prov. RI S
A )



Both blades on same end, Main blade like a thin muskrat type, second blade a small pen blade. Handle slabs on mine are thin stamped metal with a jigged pattern and a crown shield stamped on one side..I never even thought about how old it may be. I have had it for about 10 years, when my sister found it on a dirt road on the edge of town. Its a good knife but the handles make it look kind of "cheap". I still can not figure out how to post picture! Technology drives me nuts. (I still drive a truck with a carburator on it).Can anybody help with the picture thing? THANKS

[dewman]

....is actually pretty simple if you have it saved to your computer. Just type in your post, then click on the "Browse" button at the bottom of the screen, find your photo in your computer and click "open", then click "Submit" Simple as that.

[useem]

THANKS, Will try with knife currently in my pocket.

[El Lobo]

Now you're hooked!!



Bill

[useem]

HEY IT WORKED! Thanks dewman. Will post that Imperial knife tomorrow. I couldnt figure this out eversince i joined the forum. Just think, all i had to do was ask THANKS AGAIN

[dewman]

That means we'll be expecting lots of photos now, you know that, don't you?

[useem]

Hello everybody. Here is a picture of my Imperial knife. Thanks for all the help.

[dewman]

This will be an interesting comparison. When the wife gets back from Kansas, and I get my paws on the knife, I'll post a photo. Thanks Useem.

Dewman

[El Lobo]

useem,

That is one of the inexpensive stamped metal shell-handled knives that Imperial was renowned for making, beginning in the early 1930s. Some folks believe it helped keep them afloat during the Depression. It looks alot like the one below.

For more information, you might post this over in Knife Lore...if you are so inclined.

Bill