All About Pocket Knives

I recently acquired this 3 1/4" shell handled half congress. Although it has no tang stamp, it must be an Imperial as the two patent numbers on the pen blade were both issued to Imperial for their shell handled construction pocket knives. I have seen lots of shell handled stockman, Barlows, Kamp Kings, and fishing knives. But this is the first half congress shell handle I have seen. It has an interesting color to the thin shell covers.

Lots of really cool shells posted here over the years.

I don't think this one is rare, but I haven't seen many Hammer Brand shell Camper/Scouts in cracked ice without a shield. Another $4 find from a couple weeks ago.

Any tricks to removing rust stains from shell scales (as visible in the last picture)? Thanks!

WillyCamaro wrote: ↑Mon Mar 04, 2019 6:30 pm Thank you garddogg!
Here are a few more,
Brand new in the original box, sharp as heck, teeny tiny, Imperial Frontier Series, Beckley Coal advertising, 1981, stockman. I was cleaning this little one last night and she nipped me right across the pointing finger. So sharp didn't feel a thing. Imperial sharpening quality for ya.
Sellers pics of course.

Nice one! . Beckley, WV is two hours from my house. I collect coal related knives. If I'd known about this, while he and I were checking them, I'd take a photo of my Granddad's Pittston Coal '79 Stockman. The coal industry bought a TON of Frontiers back in the day. I think they alone kept Imperial afloat. My Granddad has 2-3 from Pittstion (his employer from 1978-1984 when he was laid off; he later worked on the service side of the mining industry; both as a purchasing agent for a number of mines, and in the office) that are also black with yellow writing and that same box; and I have two from recently defunct Westmoreland; both of those are Double Eagles made by Camillus. The latter I need to clean up a little better, they were stored poorly, and the bolsters got tarnished really bad.

I seem to recall seeing my Granddad having that one I mentioned, but for some odd reason, it wasn't in the box when I cleaned a few again.

This Stockman has the Pittston logo printed on the pile side handle.

I picked up this shell handle Congress at the local flea market last weekend. No tang stamp or any markings on it. It has faux rat tail bolsters on it, and is 3 and 1/4" overall closed. Anyone have any ideas who might have made it?

Nice little knife, OLDE CUTLER. I don't know who made it. I don't know when I have seen the rat tail look on a hollow bolster. Interesting.

Funny thing; I bought a shell handled knife at the flea market last weekend too. It has lined bolsters.
It is a Imperial Hammer. A decent knife that I paid little money for and it cleaned up pretty well. It is 3 7/16" closed.

Nice ole knives, Olde cutler and Joe. I do not normally buy shell handle knives, though I grew up using them. But as I get older and more experienced, I am sometimes more impressed by shell handle knives than I expect to be.

Here is a Richlands Sheffield that I bought just because I like fish knives. It is 4.5 inches closed.

Thank you, Mel.
Wow, that's a nice big knife in great condition.

FRJ wrote: ↑Wed Nov 09, 2022 12:23 am Nice little knife, OLDE CUTLER. I don't know who made it. I don't know when I have seen the rat tail look on a hollow bolster. Interesting.

Funny thing; I bought a shell handled knife at the flea market last weekend too. It has lined bolsters.
It is a Imperial Hammer. A decent knife that I paid little money for and it cleaned up pretty well. It is 3 7/16" closed.

Thanks Joe. I have a similarly handled Hammer cattle knife. I always thought it looks like the UPC barcode on products.

Here's an Imperial USA fish knife with "Confetti" shell handle that I got for a friend. Although I've owned a few, I have never been particularly drawn to shell handled knives so I was surprised at how much I like this one. Maybe I'll keep it and find a different fish knife for my friend

That is the wildest Cell wrap I have ever seen, and I’ve seen a lot of of them

That a real unusual one there, Q. It’s kinda got a charm of its own, I suppose. When we’re talking about shell handle knives, are these celluloid with a shell look?

OLDE CUTLER wrote: ↑Tue Nov 08, 2022 2:11 pm I picked up this shell handle Congress at the local flea market last weekend. No tang stamp or any markings on it. It has faux rat tail bolsters on it, and is 3 and 1/4" overall closed. Anyone have any ideas who might have made it?

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I believe it is an Imperial. I have one just like it marked Hammer brand.I still pick nice imperial shall handled knives when I see them.
The Cell wrap is celluloid. I have burned it out in the garage just to see, and it smells like a burnt ping-pong ball.
I have never seen a shall handle wrap Gas out. I’ve seen them burnt, cracked, and missing.

edgy46 wrote: ↑Sun Mar 08, 2026 3:21 pm I have never seen a shall handle wrap Gas out. I’ve seen them burnt, cracked, and missing.

I bet you've also seen a few that have shrunk as well, no?

Here are a few I have.

"The Ideal" line of shell handle knives had to be one of the least expensive USA made knives ever. Besides being shell handled, the blades were only beveled on one side and after assembly they were not even belt sanded on the spine to even up the springs. However, the steel used for the blades seems to be of good quality as they sharpen up nicely.

Q, that confetti handle is really cool. Sometimes it is really surprising just what those fellows who made the shell handle knives were able to accomplish.

Woodwalker, Olde Cutler, thanks for posting those knives.

Here is a Hammer Brand knife. I like the mushroom in the background, because the handle looks like some kind of fungus.

QTCut5 wrote: ↑Sun Mar 08, 2026 3:38 pm

edgy46 wrote: ↑Sun Mar 08, 2026 3:21 pm I have never seen a shall handle wrap Gas out. I’ve seen them burnt, cracked, and missing.

I bet you've also seen a few that have shrunk as well, no?

I HAVE SEEN THEM SHRINK A LITTLE BIT LENGTH WAYS, BUT NOT A WHOLE LOT. I HAVE NEVER SEEN THEM SHRINK CROSSWAYS OF THE HANDLE.

Dinadan wrote: ↑Sun Mar 08, 2026 4:53 pm Q, that confetti handle is really cool. Sometimes it is really surprising just what those fellows who made the shell handle knives were able to accomplish.

Woodwalker, Olde Cutler, thanks for posting those knives.

Here is a Hammer Brand knife. I like the mushroom in the background, because the handle looks like some kind of fungus.
Hammer11a.jpg

Super photo Mel!! Very nice piece!!

Dinadan wrote: ↑Sun Mar 08, 2026 4:53 pm Q, that confetti handle is really cool. Sometimes it is really surprising just what those fellows who made the shell handle knives were able to accomplish.

Woodwalker, Olde Cutler, thanks for posting those knives.

Here is a Hammer Brand knife. I like the mushroom in the background, because the handle looks like some kind of fungus.
Hammer11a.jpg

Mahalo, Mel

I really like the colors & swirls on your Hammer Brand and what a great photo!