IKCO The Imperial Knife Company

[Miller Bro's]

Nice old knives WB & Joe

[whitebuffalo58]

MB, I've got you to thank for one of those AND it's one of my favorites.

WB

[Miller Bro's]

It could not have found a better home, glad you like it!

[Miller Bro's]

Here are a couple more old Imperials.

[TexasJack]

Here is another, I didn't know it was Imperial until I saw this thread.

Anyone have an idea how old or rare?

[TexasJack]

The celluloid handles are hard to capture. It had red,gold and green but the green is hard to see in the pictures.

[mickeyevans]

my favorite Imperial, and the two sides are different darkness, is this common?
I have a chance for two IKCO very colorful celluloid, Christmas colors, one is in triangle one is in rectangle
the blades have little to no snap and some wobble but handles are great
price is 48 for both, does blade condition render them valueless or not worth collecting?

[Joe Dirt]

WoW! I like that Hammer Brand, MB! Unusual to see a Turkish clip on one.

Jack, check out the first page of this thread for some really nice glitter handle knives! A couple of the guys have some really nice collections of them.
I think someone mentioned the diamond stamp was from 1938 - 1940?

... Joe

[TexasJack]

Thanks Joe, After I posted mine I did go back and look at the first few pages.
You are correct there are a lot of pretty ones.

[knifetime]

I had a question about IKCO. When did they start making shell handle knives and are all the metal handle IKCO, shell handle?

[singin46]

To my knowledge it all started in the mid 30s as far as the IKCO brand is concerned. To answer your second question. I don't think I've ever seen a shell handled IKCO branded knife. The only shells I've seen are either marked Imperial or Hammer. JoeDirt could probably shed more light on this or correct me if I'm wrong. The only IKCO knives I've seen have all been solid celluloid handles, other than the occasional bones. Don't believe there were any metal handle/shells branded IKCO.

[knifetime]

The one IKCO knife I have is a metal handle of shell construction. It looks like it may have been red at one time.
I thought it might be because it was a all metal handle.

[whitebuffalo58]

Alot of the early shell handled boys knives had the IKCO stamp. I've seen them in both red and black, all were painted without any cell covers. There were several variations, including 1 and 2 blades, as well as both spear and clip primaries.
I've always believed they were the first of the shell handles from around the mid to late 30's. I've also always believed that the IKCO stamp ended about that same time. It's possible that Imperial used up some older blades when they kicked off the shell handle line.

WB

[singin46]

I totally forgot about the boy's knife versions.

[knifetime]

Great info guy's,thanks.

[Joe Dirt]

Lets not forget about the shell handle letter openers marked "IKco" - quite often
mistakenly identified as LKco. I've got one but I don't know where it is right now.

Here are pics of the boys knife from a members ebay listing...

[knifetime]

That is the very one I have Joe. My knife looks like it was red at one time because there is still paint visible.

[Old Hunter]

Some of my Imperial knives - the two EO's are my oldest, the bone handle is late 1930's, the composition is WW-II. OH

[mickeyevans]

great thread guys, some beautiful knives
this is how I am learning and starting my collection with 'fair' condition knives

[garddogg56]

Micky I'm with U your knives are workingman knives with stories to tell some day we'll have nice new ones right now I have twin to get thru college

[junebug]

IKCO 2 blade jack....cap lifter ACTION = WOOOOOOOOOOT
was CHRISTMAS gift BOMB from CUTTY,,,,,,,,

[Miller Bro's]

I am learning and starting my collection with 'fair' condition knives

Read, Read, Read, Learn, Learn, Learn, and then you can Buy, Buy, Buy!

[Mason]

Lets not forget about the shell handle letter openers marked "IKco" - quite often
mistakenly identified as LKco. I've got one but I don't know where it is right now.

Here are pics of the boys knife from a members ebay listing...

I believe that this was the same "IKco" knife that went with this 1953 ad.

[mickeyevans]

I am dyslexic, I got that backwards, MB
here are some more IKCO's, I hope I am not buying high and selling low, think I am about even and having fun

[singin46]

I think you're doing fine Mickey! That's exactly how I got into these beauties. I go back and forth between the shells and these IKCO knives. I'll find an older IKCO when looking for something else all the time. When you're not looking for them, that's when I tend to find them. Those are all very different handles and patterns!