All About Pocket Knives

Thanks fellers!

Bill, they may not be highly valued, but for me they are highly prized!

WB

I sure like em WB; cool picture in your handle. All the old shells I own snap and sharpen great. OH

I like this thread,although not valuable these remind me of growing up I picked up a few recently two Hamer jacks one has a Hamer main and an Imperial pen,then two Imperial electrician knives in great condition.

Thanks OH!

Whether you use them or collect them, very few will deny the quality of steel and heat treat on the Imperial/Hammer Brand shell knives. As far as I'm concerned, they're second to none. Yeah the blades tended to be a bit thinner then most of the upper crust knives and the shell handles can be somewhat easily dented or dinged. But when properly used and cared for, (as any knife should be) they'll perform well enough as an EDC. And the diversity of patterns will cover a fair piece of the needs of most folks who carry a knife.
Many people don't really appreciate just how smart of a move it was on Imperials part to start producing shell handled knives while so many other companies were falling by the wayside after the great depression. They not only stayed afloat, but actually grew by leaps and bounds during that time frame. Very few other companies of any kind can make that claim.
I collect other knives as well, but I've been passionate about collecting the shell handles longer then any others and almost longer then I can remember. They're just plain fun!
Here's a couple of others that I don't think I've posted yet. While I won't say the "R" word, the pen blade version doesn't come up nearly as often as the others. Out of roughly 200 of the shell handled toothpick/fish knives, I Think I only have 4 or 5 of them with different handle colors. And I really like the larger fish knife, it almost looks like that fish is swimming through a coral reef somewhere.
WB

This is the only knife that didn't sell at the yard sale.
It is not shell in the strictest use of the word.
It has a suitably thin main blade.

I don't remember if these have been posted before. They look to have been built with spare parts, possibly some of the last shells built.
Note the wraps are over the shields.
The toothpick and the fishing knife both have short clip blades.
The photos are dated 8/21 11.
Does anyone have any like this, if so please post photos

Nope, hadn't seen any like that Bill. Interesting that it would appear the shield area was cut out after the wraps were applied.

How's about some Barlow's with a bit o' color?
WB

I bought this Prov Cut Co back in March of '12, because of the blade configuration.

WB Great barlows. The stag wrap is a new one for me.

Jerry The sheepfoot blade is my favorite.

Now there's a workin' mans knife. Blue collar workin' man, that is.

What I find amazing though, Jerry. Is that you actually know the month and year you snagged it. Like Really?!

WB

Thanks Bill. Somewhere back in this thread, I think Dimitri posted a toothpick with those wraps. Been watchin' for one of those ever since. I've got a few different versions of the jigged style wraps, but not that one.

WB

It's simple W.B. I take pictures as soon as I get the knife and embedded into the properties of the image is the date the pic was taken.

Yeah, I figured it was something like that. If there was ever anybody who had a method to their madness, it would be you my friend.

WB

My latest shell, marked Hammer Brand. I think the tang stamp dates it 36-37. The only four blade congress shell I have ever seen. Not in the best of condition, but as I stated it's the only one I have ever seen.

Very cool knife, I can't imagine they made many of those, thanks for sharing!

Another Knife Collector wrote:Very cool knife, I can't imagine they made many of those, thanks for sharing!

Thank you Phil.

I have a Hammer Brand jack that has been in my way in the shop for months. A couple days ago I sharpened it and started carrying it. I am impressed with the steel, heat edge retention! Nice light weight jack. Will post pics later.

Just finished cleaning/polishing this Hammer Brand up. I call the shell color: CAMO SWIRL! (sounds like an ice cream flavor).

Great cleanup Scott.
I still can't pass up a shell with full blades and good wraps.

Hey those are some nice shell handled Hammer Brand knives fellas! They are some of my favorites. Here are some of mine. Randy

Here are a few I may or may not have posted before.Can't go back thru all of these pages.

A few more

Sum nice shells guys this Imperial fishing knife was my first put out by a local soda company,then my Mark Twain barlow,lastly my Grandma's tuxido

Goldpan--Great set

K7K--Nice variety and quantity

Guarddog--Love that tuxedo

Some shell fishing season knives.My grandkids Imperials and sum Colonials.