All About Pocket Knives

Does anyone know anything about Imperial pocket knives? They're made in england and the logo's a crown.

T2873. Imperial is a an old American cutlery co dating back to the early 1900s. There are many here more qualified than I to provide you with history on the co. However, Imperial US bought the Richards-Rodgers-Wostenholm conglomerate in 1977 and made Imperial England knives in Sheffield for a few years. It did not work out and the co was sold
in 1982. I hope this helps. s-k

I think I've 1 or 2 made in Ireland and 1 or 2 more made in RI.

Imperial owned the Stag factory in Listow Ireland as well as the Rogers-Wostenholm Company of Sheffield & Richards of Sheffield, as Smiling-Knife mentioned.
The Irish factory was closed prior to the closing of the Schrade factory in 2004 factory.

Dale

I think these are some Imperial.

Those are indeed Imperials Ken! Nice looking ones I might add.
Perhaps Bill will see this thread & show us some of his 2 tone Imperial shells. These knives are shell handles.

Here is a 2 tone Imperial of mine & a couple Richards Sheffield shell handle knives. According to Goin's Richards specialized in shell handle knives. Imperial bought them in 1977 & operated it until 1982 when they sold it to Western Knives, (Goin's, pg 230; 1988 version).

Dale

Does "I S C" tang stamp stand for Imperial Schrae Cutlery?

Here is the only Imperial i have, Provedince, RI.

whittlenut wrote:Does "I S C" tang stamp stand for Imperial Schrae Cutlery?

I believe that is correct. I cannot find it in Goins or LG4, but I think they did use that tang stamp. They also used IK CO, sometimes it looked like IKCO on the tang stamp.

If you could post a pic of the ISC knife & tang stamp, it would help.

Dale

Thanks for the confirmation about ISC. The reason I asked is because I bought 4 SAKs in very good shape for $5 each at a junk shop... never been sharpened... 3 blue and 1 red... stamped:

ISC
STAINLESS
GERMANY

I like SAKs, German knives,and I like Imperials. I've got a few Imperials from about everywhere else but Germany. I did'nt know there were any Imperials made in Germany. These seem to be as equal quality as the Victorinox similar models. As soon as I figure out how, I'll post some pics. Can anyone tell me about when or how they came to be made in Germany.

There were a bunch of knives made in Germany for Schrade.
You will find a listing of them here at the bottom of the list. They were known as the Century line.
http://www.allaboutpocketknives.com/sch ... _tools.php

I hope this helps,
Dale

orvet wrote:

whittlenut wrote:Does "I S C" tang stamp stand for Imperial Schrae Cutlery?

I believe that is correct. I cannot find it in Goins or LG4, but I think they did use that tang stamp. They also used IK CO, sometimes it looked like IKCO on the tang stamp.

If you could post a pic of the ISC knife & tang stamp, it would help.

Dale

I stand correct on the IKCO tang stamp.
IKCO was an early stamp used by the Mirando Brothers at Imperial Knife Co. starting about 1917. see LB4, page 123

The history of Imperial, Schrade, (George Schrade as well as the company), Walden, Kingston, Ulster, the Kastor Brothers, Albert Baer, Camillus, and several other companies are so interwoven that it is difficult (for me at least) to keep track without a historical time-line. There is a good historical outline in LG4 on pages 123-125.

Back to your original question:
"Does "I S C" tang stamp stand for Imperial Schrade Cutlery?"
While I cannot find anything yet that confirms that, I would take that as a good working hypothesis.

Sorry for any confusion.
Dale

Thanks orvet. I'll see if I can get some pics on here. Any of you other knife historians know any more info about "ISC"?

I have 1 or 2 Iperial England knives, thought you might like to see this one

Cookyboy1 wrote: ↑Wed Jan 13, 2021 11:57 am I have 1 or 2 Iperial England knives, thought you might like to see this one

That is a beauty!!

I've a few Imperial Ireland

Here is my only one

beanybabeat968, that is a G@@D LKING Imperial England pocket knife.
I only have one Imperial England pocket knife. It is easier to post the link
than to post the pictures again.
https://www.allaboutpocketknives.com/kn ... hp?t=74720