Imperial Mexico

[New_Windsor_NY]

Here is my latest acquisition for this topic. It is a PASTOR ALEMAN (German Shepherd), "deer/moose head" handles, two blades with cap lifter/bottle opener, pocket knife. It's 3 7/8" closed, 6 3/4" with the main blade fully open and 9 1/2" with both blades fully open. This knife "brand" is part of the Imperial Mexico story/connection. It is in very good shape, but it did need a little bit of cleaning. I took some pictures and here it is.

Here is the link to a FANTASTIC article on the Imperial Mexico story/connection by jxr1197 (Jason).
It is in the April 2020 issue of Knife Magazine.
http://www.collectors-of-schrades-r.us/ ... cianas.pdf

[jxr1197]

Skip, you're killing it lately with all these Mexican knives! That little white knife with the flip top church key is a Colonial. You mentioned having another one from Providence Cutlery. Colonial and Providence are joined at the hip - lots of identical patterns with them. I saw that cigar jack you got there on ebay and assumed it was French Ivory - maybe I was wrong on that. I don't think that's Imperial or Colonial. It's probably one of the Pastor Alemans that Cuchilleria Monterrey was ordering from Japan or Italy. It's great to keep discovering new patterns with Hecho related marks. Congrats on the new additions.

[New_Windsor_NY]

Skip, you're killing it lately with all these Mexican knives! That little white knife with the flip top church key is a Colonial. You mentioned having another one from Providence Cutlery. Colonial and Providence are joined at the hip - lots of identical patterns with them. I saw that cigar jack you got there on ebay and assumed it was French Ivory - maybe I was wrong on that. I don't think that's Imperial or Colonial. It's probably one of the Pastor Alemans that Cuchilleria Monterrey was ordering from Japan or Italy. It's great to keep discovering new patterns with Hecho related marks. Congrats on the new additions.

Thank you Jason. So Colonial also used the PASTOR ALEMAN tang stamp? I'm referring to the white knife with the flip top church key.

[doglegg]

Those two fit well in your collection Skip. And the ivory handle does look like french ivory, a celluloid.

[jxr1197]

Thank you Jason. So Colonial also used the PASTOR ALEMAN tang stamp? I'm referring to the white knife with the flip top church key.

Cuchilleria Monterrey owned the Pator Aleman name and bought contract knives from Imperial and other vendors - the same way Sears owned the Craftsman name and had Craftsman knives made by Camillus and Schrade. At the time Colonial had a Mexican division.

[New_Windsor_NY]

Thank you Jason. So Colonial also used the PASTOR ALEMAN tang stamp? I'm referring to the white knife with the flip top church key.

Cuchilleria Monterrey owned the Pator Aleman name and bought contract knives from Imperial and other vendors - the same way Sears owned the Craftsman name and had Craftsman knives made by Camillus and Schrade. At the time Colonial had a Mexican division.

Thank you Jason. So Imperial and Colonial were involved in Mexico, any others?

[New_Windsor_NY]

Those two fit well in your collection Skip. And the ivory handle does look like french ivory, a celluloid.

Thank you Floyd. I really don't think that the handles are celluloid. Under a pretty good magnifying glass, I can see "lines" in the material.

[jxr1197]

I really don't think that the handles are celluloid. Under a pretty good magnifying glass, I can see "lines" in the material.

You're the best judge because you have it in hand and I'm definitely not an ivory expert. Ivory doesn't have fine little lines (capillaries) like bone, it can have long lines that are free flowing and wavy. The lines in French ivory tend to look like pinstripes which is what I thought I saw in that knife. The pic below has an ivory knife and a french ivory knife.

[doglegg]

Jason, not to go off track but your Schrade impresses me every time I see it. Thanks.

[jxr1197]

Jason, not to go off track but your Schrade impresses me every time I see it. Thanks.

Thanks - I never miss an opportunity to put a camera in front of that one, lol.

[New_Windsor_NY]

I really don't think that the handles are celluloid. Under a pretty good magnifying glass, I can see "lines" in the material.

You're the best judge because you have it in hand and I'm definitely not an ivory expert. Ivory doesn't have fine little lines (capillaries) like bone, it can have long lines that are free flowing and wavy. The lines in French ivory tend to look like pinstripes which is what I thought I saw in that knife. The pic below has an ivory knife and a french ivory knife.
ivoryfrenchivory.jpg

Here is a picture of one side of the knife in question. The lines are fairly visible. I'll go with the French Ivory decision.
But, is French Ivory, ivory? Or is it a fancy name for celluloid?
Click on the picture to ENLARGE.

[jxr1197]

..is it a fancy name for celluloid?

Yep

[New_Windsor_NY]

I just purchased this knife for best offer. It is a PASTOR ALEMAN (German Shepherd), single blade, hawkbill pruner pocket knife. This knife "brand" is part of the Imperial Mexico story/connection. It does have the German Shepherd's head profile on the tang. That qualifies it, albeit a stretch, for residency at the zoo. It appears to be in wonderful condition. When I receive it, I'll give it the once over, take some pictures and post them in the appropriate location(s).

[Papa Bones]

Skip........ This entire thread is nothing but one awesome collection. Soon you gonna have to give us a Whole Collective Perspective of just what you've acquired of Pastor Alemans. I've truly enjoyed watching you add to it.

[New_Windsor_NY]

Skip........ This entire thread is nothing but one awesome collection. Soon you gonna have to give us a Whole Collective Perspective of just what you've acquired of Pastor Alemans. I've truly enjoyed watching you add to it.

Thank you Papa Bones. I enjoy adding to it.

[New_Windsor_NY]

This morning I purchased this knife for best offer. It is a PASTOR ALEMAN (German Shepherd), single blade pocket knife. This knife "brand" is part of the Imperial Mexico story/connection. It looks like it's in pretty good shape. When I receive it, I'll give it the once over, take some pictures and post them in the appropriate location(s

[New_Windsor_NY]

This evening I purchased this knife. It is a PASTOR ALEMAN (German Shepherd), single blade pocket knife. This knife "brand" is part of the Imperial Mexico story/connection. It appears to be in pretty good condition. When I receive it, I'll give it the once over, take some pictures and post them in the appropriate location(s).

***** jxr1197 (Jason) says that this is a Cumosa by the Edge Company (next post down) *****

[jxr1197]

This evening I purchased this knife. It is a PASTOR ALEMAN (German Shepherd), single blade pocket knife. This knife "brand" is part of the Imperial Mexico story/connection. It appears to be in pretty good condition. When I receive it, I'll give it the once over, take some pictures and post them in the appropriate location(s).

You got the Cumosa! I completely forgot to bid on that one. Glad you wound up with it - very cool knife.
When it arrives you should ditch that keyring and put a leather lanyard on it. That's how is came from the factory. Those knives were made by Edge Co in Mexico and there was a time when they were sold as kits that you ordered and put together yourself. A mail order switchblade! How cool is that?

[New_Windsor_NY]

This evening I purchased this knife. It is a PASTOR ALEMAN (German Shepherd), single blade pocket knife. This knife "brand" is part of the Imperial Mexico story/connection. It appears to be in pretty good condition. When I receive it, I'll give it the once over, take some pictures and post them in the appropriate location(s).

You got the Cumosa! I completely forgot to bid on that one. Glad you wound up with it - very cool knife.
When it arrives you should ditch that keyring and put a leather lanyard on it. That's how is came from the factory. Those knives were made by Edge Co in Mexico and there was a time when they were sold as kits that you ordered and put together yourself. A mail order switchblade! How cool is that?

Thank you Jason. So now, in addition to Imperial and Colonial being involved in Mexico, this Edge Company was involved there also. This is starting to get interesting.

I found a couple of pictures regarding a Cumosa that knife7knut has. It's pictured here:
viewtopic.php?f=4&t=62384&p=737216&hilit=Cumosa#p736294
The 5th & 6th picture down.

[jxr1197]

Thank you Jason. So now, in addition to Imperial and Colonial being involved in Mexico, this Edge Company was involved there also. This is starting to get interesting.

I found a couple of pictures regarding a Cumosa that knife7knut has. It's pictured here:
viewtopic.php?f=4&t=62384&p=737216&hilit=Cumosa#p736294
The 5th & 6th picture down.

Thanks for posting a link to that thread - that oblique Shapleigh is insane. I am wrong in what I said there about Cuchilleria Monterrey making them. Edge Co made them FOR Cuchilleria Monterrey.

[New_Windsor_NY]

Thank you Jason. So now, in addition to Imperial and Colonial being involved in Mexico, this Edge Company was involved there also. This is starting to get interesting.

I found a couple of pictures regarding a Cumosa that knife7knut has. It's pictured here:
viewtopic.php?f=4&t=62384&p=737216&hilit=Cumosa#p736294
The 5th & 6th picture down.

Thanks for posting a link to that thread - that oblique Shapleigh is insane. I am wrong in what I said there about Cuchilleria Monterrey making them. Edge Co made them FOR Cuchilleria Monterrey.

I'll have to look closely when the knife arrives, but I think all mine says is PASTOR ALEMAN. I don't think anything about Edge Co is stamped or etched on the knife.

[jxr1197]

I'll have to look closely when the knife arrives, but I think all mine says is PASTOR ALEMAN. I don't think anything about Edge Co is stamped or etched on the knife.

It's a contract knife - the same as the Pastor Alemans made by Imperial or Colonial that only say PA.

[jxr1197]

Mexican Pastor Aleman Enjoy Coca Cola Knife - the tiny writing above 'Coca Cola' is "Disfrute".

[New_Windsor_NY]

I'll have to look closely when the knife arrives, but I think all mine says is PASTOR ALEMAN. I don't think anything about Edge Co is stamped or etched on the knife.

It's a contract knife - the same as the Pastor Alemans made by Imperial or Colonial that only say PA.

Do you know where Edge Co was located?
VERY NICE Coca Cola knife.

[jxr1197]

Do you know where Edge Co was located?

You know, I never bothered to look it up until just now. I haven't found anything on Edge Co yet but here's something interesting - in 1981 the Cumosa trademark was granted to a company in Monterrey.........Cuchilleria Monterrey! LOL

Clearly some more digging is warranted. Edge Co was a separate company but obviously there's some connection. To be continued.....