shell handled knives
- singin46
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Re: shell handled knives
Hey Joe, great cleanup on the Church Keys! So these were made from when to when you think? They are pretty rare right? 
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- Joe Dirt
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Re: shell handled knives
These are the "Outdoor Scene" Imperials I have. They are "foil wraps".
Look how much the clear cell has shrunk (you can see a faint line about 1/8" from the crimp at the blade bolster)
and the foil is exposed!
They are in the '59 Imperial catalog.
The catalog has one with a Quail on it. I have yet to see one outside the catalog!
Draac has one posted in the Hammer Brand topic in general discussion.
I haven't ever seen one stamper Hammer Brand before!
..... Joe
Look how much the clear cell has shrunk (you can see a faint line about 1/8" from the crimp at the blade bolster)
and the foil is exposed!
They are in the '59 Imperial catalog.
The catalog has one with a Quail on it. I have yet to see one outside the catalog!
Draac has one posted in the Hammer Brand topic in general discussion.
I haven't ever seen one stamper Hammer Brand before!
..... Joe
I've got a camouflage knife, but I can't find it.......
..... cardboard addicted.....
"The old timer's concentrated on making knives; not keeping records!!" ~ Bonfire bob
..... cardboard addicted.....
"The old timer's concentrated on making knives; not keeping records!!" ~ Bonfire bob
- singin46
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Re: shell handled knives
Those are quite somethin Joe!!
This is the first time I have ever seen the other 2, the only one I have ever seen was the dog. Didn't they make these in fixed blades as well?
Thought I saw one once.
Love learnin new stuff about these!
Love all Jacks
- edgy46
- Posts: 3303
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- Location: S. W. Ohio
Re: shell handled knives
A few more.
The top two pictures are of a tool kit knife. The second shot shows the pin the tools attatch to. Pictures will enlarge with a left click.
The top two pictures are of a tool kit knife. The second shot shows the pin the tools attatch to. Pictures will enlarge with a left click.
An uncontrolled accumulator.
Bill
Bill
- singin46
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Re: shell handled knives
Those are cool Bill, I have that Barlow too. The tool knife kit is one I thought of buyin many times. 
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- whitebuffalo58
- Posts: 2743
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- Location: SW MO Heart of the Ozarks
Re: shell handled knives
Here's one of several trays of Imperial, Hammer Brand and Colonial shell handles I've collected over the past many years. This one is all cracked ice celluloid. All are different in some way (blade config., tang stamp, shield, etc...) and with the exception of maybe 3 or 4, all are in mint unused condition. Celluloid has ambered on some over the years, but that's just one of those things you get with the old time celluloids. Several hard to find patterns in this bunch. Note the very rare combination glass cutter/knife sharpener about midway down on the right. In 40+ years, it's the only one like it I've seen. As time permits I'll get some other trays posted, till then take care.-
trey
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Re: shell handled knives
Awesome, white buffalo. Please post more pictures. And welcome to the site.
- Joe Dirt
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Re: shell handled knives
Great old knives, guys!
Great collection buffalo!
Is there a stamp on the glass cutter? First one I've seen!
Church key and slant bolster are nice one's also.
Been hunting a hatchet bottle opener myself.
..... Joe
Great collection buffalo!
Is there a stamp on the glass cutter? First one I've seen!
Church key and slant bolster are nice one's also.
Been hunting a hatchet bottle opener myself.
..... Joe
I've got a camouflage knife, but I can't find it.......
..... cardboard addicted.....
"The old timer's concentrated on making knives; not keeping records!!" ~ Bonfire bob
..... cardboard addicted.....
"The old timer's concentrated on making knives; not keeping records!!" ~ Bonfire bob
- whitebuffalo58
- Posts: 2743
- Joined: Tue Aug 17, 2010 2:35 am
- Location: SW MO Heart of the Ozarks
Re: shell handled knives
Thanks guys! Joe, '46-'56 stamping. Shield is different then any other Imperial I've ever seen too. Applied with end tabs like the ones used on the solid 3-layer celluloids, but different shape. It's an oddity for sure. I've always wondered if it was some kind of Frankenstein experiment gone wrong. If you think about it, the combination of glass cutter/knife sharpener is a bit strange anyway. I can't imagine it would have been all that well recieved in the market. Picked it out of a box of junk at a flea market about 10 years ago. Never have been able to find any info or listing on it anywhere. I've never tried using either tool to see how well they work. Makes for a good conversation piece though. Great thread and some really fine knives posted, glad I found it.
- singin46
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- whitebuffalo58
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- Location: SW MO Heart of the Ozarks
Re: shell handled knives
Thanks singin46! It's one of 16 drawers in a display cabinet I built several years ago. I kept my knives in a glass front display, but decided that probably wasn't the best idea. I custom built this cabinet with plenty of filtered air circulation for the celluloid handled knives. As most here probably know, but it's always worth mentioning, never keep celluloid in an air tight space.
Here's the complete 4 piece matched wildlife set. All 4 were also issued in the automatic version too. I'm working on that set.
Here's the complete 4 piece matched wildlife set. All 4 were also issued in the automatic version too. I'm working on that set.- singin46
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- Joe Dirt
- Posts: 1747
- Joined: Tue Mar 16, 2010 4:10 pm
- Location: N.C. USA
Re: shell handled knives
One more of those puppies.... a fixed blade that singin' found for me
It's got the 4 finger/USA stamp while the mop one beside it has the '36 - '37 stamp!
The strange sheath came with the "scene handle".
(I'll try to get a better pic of the stamps)
..... Joe
It's got the 4 finger/USA stamp while the mop one beside it has the '36 - '37 stamp!
The strange sheath came with the "scene handle".
(I'll try to get a better pic of the stamps)
..... Joe
I've got a camouflage knife, but I can't find it.......
..... cardboard addicted.....
"The old timer's concentrated on making knives; not keeping records!!" ~ Bonfire bob
..... cardboard addicted.....
"The old timer's concentrated on making knives; not keeping records!!" ~ Bonfire bob
- singin46
- Posts: 8126
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- Location: MUSIC CITY
Re: shell handled knives
So strange that the sheaths are all over the map in design.
Never seen anything like those Joe. 
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- Joe Dirt
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- Joined: Tue Mar 16, 2010 4:10 pm
- Location: N.C. USA
Re: shell handled knives
Hammer Brand "slant bolsters". (4 finger/USA stamps)
These are one of the few Hammer stamped knives that had a shield.
You will find a few other patterns with a shield, but they were "mix ups", as they were built side by side in the Imperial factory!
"It's all about the colors, folks".
..... Joe
These are one of the few Hammer stamped knives that had a shield.
You will find a few other patterns with a shield, but they were "mix ups", as they were built side by side in the Imperial factory!
"It's all about the colors, folks".
..... Joe
I've got a camouflage knife, but I can't find it.......
..... cardboard addicted.....
"The old timer's concentrated on making knives; not keeping records!!" ~ Bonfire bob
..... cardboard addicted.....
"The old timer's concentrated on making knives; not keeping records!!" ~ Bonfire bob
- FRJ
- Gold Tier

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- Location: Ct.
Re: shell handled knives
I picked up a couple of these nice knives lately.
I hope you like them.
The jack is an Imperial.
The stockman is a Hammer.
I hope you like them.
The jack is an Imperial.
The stockman is a Hammer.
Joe
- singin46
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Re: shell handled knives
Oh the pain JOE!!!
I have dreams about findin one of them Brown and Green ones! Please let me find one soon.
Those are some of the best Joe. 
Those are both in very fine condition FRJ!
You found some beauties there! 
Those are both in very fine condition FRJ!
Love all Jacks
- 1967redrider
- Gold Tier

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Re: shell handled knives
Those fixed blade shells are cool!
Just picked up 2 Imperials; a lobster and a changer with shell handles.
Just picked up 2 Imperials; a lobster and a changer with shell handles.
- Attachments
Pocket, fixed, machete, axe, it's all good!
You're going to look awfully silly with that knife sticking out of your @#$. -Clint Eastwood, High Plains Drifter
CHRIST IS KING
You're going to look awfully silly with that knife sticking out of your @#$. -Clint Eastwood, High Plains Drifter
CHRIST IS KING
- singin46
- Posts: 8126
- Joined: Thu Feb 08, 2007 6:57 am
- Location: MUSIC CITY
Re: shell handled knives
The tool set is cool Red! They also made it in Cracked Ice. Very nice pickups Joe!
I like both but that Gray Grn is awesome!
I like both but that Gray Grn is awesome!
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- 1967redrider
- Gold Tier

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Re: shell handled knives
I was happy to find it with all the attachments.
Also came with a small boxed 3 3/8" Cross sterling silver mechanical pencil for under $20!
Also came with a small boxed 3 3/8" Cross sterling silver mechanical pencil for under $20!
Pocket, fixed, machete, axe, it's all good!
You're going to look awfully silly with that knife sticking out of your @#$. -Clint Eastwood, High Plains Drifter
CHRIST IS KING
You're going to look awfully silly with that knife sticking out of your @#$. -Clint Eastwood, High Plains Drifter
CHRIST IS KING
- singin46
- Posts: 8126
- Joined: Thu Feb 08, 2007 6:57 am
- Location: MUSIC CITY
Re: shell handled knives
Nice, now ya just gotta snag the cracked ice model. They're on ebay quite frequently.
Love all Jacks
- singin46
- Posts: 8126
- Joined: Thu Feb 08, 2007 6:57 am
- Location: MUSIC CITY
Re: shell handled knives
Well these 2 showed up at the door today and boy was I excited.
While I will be makin a trip to the fabric store tomorrow to get some new twine for the 40s card the twine on the other 39' is fine. 60 plus year old twine is bound to stop workin after a while.
What's funny is these 2 cards were only 300 miles from me! At an antique store outside of Memphis.
What's funny is these 2 cards were only 300 miles from me! At an antique store outside of Memphis.
Love all Jacks
- FRJ
- Gold Tier

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- Location: Ct.
Re: shell handled knives
Nice cards singin, and thanks for your comments on my knives. I was glad to pick these up because of all the attention to them on a few threads here. Thery're nice knives.
redrider, I've got that same Imperial tool knife. No tools.
redrider, I've got that same Imperial tool knife. No tools.
Joe
- singin46
- Posts: 8126
- Joined: Thu Feb 08, 2007 6:57 am
- Location: MUSIC CITY
- singin46
- Posts: 8126
- Joined: Thu Feb 08, 2007 6:57 am
- Location: MUSIC CITY
Re: shell handled knives
Here's a couple new ones that I just cleaned.
Hammer Brand, one Congress, one Jack. I call the Congress pattern color, OCEAN
the Jack, I don't know what you call it.
JoeDirt, help me!
Hammer Brand, one Congress, one Jack. I call the Congress pattern color, OCEAN
the Jack, I don't know what you call it.
Love all Jacks