Imperial:The,"King"of knives..........

[Leo H]

I believe you are mistakenly referring to the handle covers as bolsters.
Bolsters are the metal ends of the handles. Actually the bottom one is called and end cap, but most of us call them bolsters also.
They "bolster" the strength of the pivot area.

The handle covers on your knife are celluloid and they are outgassing.
If you want to save the knife you need to remove them and replace with a different type of material.
If not removed the outgassing celluloid will destroy the entire knife.

Wow. Fascinating! That certainly is what looks like what is happening with that knife. Thank you for
the explanation. I guess, that makes this example a good practice restoration experience.
I will remember the difference between bolsters and handles.

What causes the celluloid to degrade some knives and not others? Environment?

Instead of answering your question it would be easier if you would use the search option to search outgassing.
There is a ton of information on AAPK about this subject.

will do.

[btrwtr]

A few older solid construction knives with IKCO and Imperial stamps.

[FRJ]

Wayne, these are beautiful knives and great photos.

[Jacknifeben]

Here is one of the nicest IMPERIAL knives I have seen. The blades are the same HAMMER FORGED as the KEEN KUTTER on page 375 in Sargents 3rd edition Knives & Razors. Check this out.

[knife7knut]

Thought I would revive this thread with my newest Imperial:found at the local flea market and marked "Imperial Ireland" it is a double lock back with a saw blade for a secondary. The unusual thing is the lock mechanism:buttons located at the front of the knife next to the blade wells.I'm not sure how this will work out in use as when you grip the knife your index finger lays right across both lock releases.

[WillyCamaro]

Dang nab it Ray, you've got me needing to start collect Imps again; baaaaaaad boy!


Wonderful ole knives y'all are showing.

[edge213]

I posted these elsewhere, but it was suggested that I also post them here.

[edge213]

More

[knife7knut]

Thanks again for posting those David;they are some beautiful examples!

[edge213]

Thanks again for posting those David;they are some beautiful examples!

Thank you sir.

[WillyCamaro]

Thanks again for posting those David;they are some beautiful examples!

Yup, wholeheartidly agree mate.

[FRJ]

A 5 1/4" Frontier Hunter with Delrin covers.
Quite the solid knife.

[Jacknifeben]

This is the nicest IMPERIAL 4 inch cattle knife I have. Tang stamp is IMPERIAL IRELAND. All three blades are perfect and the handles are a jigged imitation bone. What year would this be?

[WillyCamaro]

This is the nicest IMPERIAL 4 inch cattle knife I have. Tang stamp is IMPERIAL IRELAND. All three blades are perfect and the handles are a jigged imitation bone. What year would this be?

Very nice 'un Jack. I'd date it '70-80 timeframe, but it could be newer (many of the Ireland Imps were solid bolster construction, throughout all the years of production).

[Meridian_Mike]

I have a couple....

Here is a DE 5" hunter....
(Pardon the poor picture)

And here is a bone ceee-gar.....

And a camp knife that needs some cleaning......

[Papa Bones]

I have a couple....

Here is a DE 5" hunter....
(Pardon the poor picture)

And here is a bone ceee-gar.....

And a camp knife that needs some cleaning......

Very Nice Mike!!

[Waukonda]

I have a fondness for advertising knives, particularly those that are agriculture related. This cracked ice peanut is one of my favorites. This seemed to be an appropriate time of year, and setting, to bring it out.

[New_Windsor_NY]

I.....

GREAT knife, Ike!
FANTASTIC background also!

[Miller Bro's]

Nice knife and cool picture!

[Ripster]

Here’s a few pics of some of the ones sitting around the shop. So got a little oil on them tonight and get there picture taken while out . You should be able to see most of the stamps ,nothing special. The Leinie one and a few others are gifted so they mean a little something. The old switchblades all work properly but are cheaply made. Had forgotten about a few of them till saw Ike’s post Regarding old Imperial Ad knives. Then had to go digging,was fun to get them out as these are some of the first knives could afford back then, some fond memories in these old knives
Thanks to all for keeping this Imperial thread going .

[Jacknifeben]

I have a Imperial knife that seems to be Special to this brand. The blades are hammer forged and the only blade like this I have seen were on Keen Kutter knives. Any help please.

[jxr1197]

I have a Imperial knife that seems to be Special to this brand. The blades are hammer forged and the only blade like this I have seen were on Keen Kutter knives. Any help please.

The knife was originally created as a bicentennial special but was also sold through Parker Frost in following years as part of a 3 knife set commemorating the bicentennials of the army, navy and marines. Those knives came in three different colors with 1775-1975 on them. They were serialized sets and 8000 were made. The hammer forged Keen Kutters were *probably* Camillus.

[ZogXll]

#5 &#6 Fish knife with can opener back and advertising.

I have one of these and absolutely love it. Prefer it to my Spyderco Salt that I actually bought to go fishing. I honestly haven't gotten much use from it yet but have really enjoyed cleaning it up and it's crazy sharp with the flat grind. Mine has a different shield though which is interesting.

[ZogXll]

Third page:
#1Lobster pen with ball point pen as a secondary blade.

Whoa that thing is wild.

[New_Windsor_NY]

This arrived very recently in a group of pocket knives that I bought. This particular pocket knife was NOT the target of my purchase. It is an Imperial (1946-1956), two blades, 3 1/8" closed, two tang stamps, pocket knife. The main blade tang stamp is "Imperial - PROV USA." It is in VERY GOOD condition. It needed very little cleaning. I took some pictures and here it is.
Caption(s), if any, are on the BOTTOM of the corresponding picture(s).
Click on a picture to ENLARGE.