Another IMPERIAL

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tjmurphy
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Another IMPERIAL

Post by tjmurphy »

Got this one off ebay for a B-I-N Best offer. WWII era IMPERIAL Navy Aviation Knife. All steel construction with Grrrrrrrrrrrrr8 Rogers bone handles. My kinda Knife. Doesn't appear to have been used or sharpened.
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FRJ
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Re: Another IMPERIAL

Post by FRJ »

That's a real beauty there, tj. ::tu::
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Re: Another IMPERIAL

Post by treefarmer »

That's a good one TJ. ::tu::
An old Imperial sure doesn't compare to what they made later in their production. Took me a while to realize they weren't all old cheap fish knives. :oops:
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tjmurphy
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Re: Another IMPERIAL

Post by tjmurphy »

Thanks Joe ::tu:: I think the old bird is a dandy.

Me too Philip. It was only after I got the first Navy Aviation knife that I found out just how nice they were early on.
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Re: Another IMPERIAL

Post by KnifeSlinger#81 »

I like that ::tu::
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tjmurphy
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Re: Another IMPERIAL

Post by tjmurphy »

Thanks, me too Paul. Not too bad for a 75-year old knife. These WWII era IMPERIALS are right up there with the quality of all the rest, and they can still be had relatively inexpensively.
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tongueriver
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Re: Another IMPERIAL

Post by tongueriver »

Who cannot love that bone? ::tu::
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Re: Another IMPERIAL

Post by knife7knut »

Beautiful knife TJ! The early Imperials are definitely some of the best knives to come down the road and very few people bother with them. All the better for us;I have a bunch of 'em.
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Re: Another IMPERIAL

Post by bdev »

Great looking knife. I always see these military contract knives on ebay but for some reason, pass them up for a different pattern, usually some Queen I'm after. Next time I'm gonna drop a bid on one. Thanks for sharing and for the inspiration. ::tu::
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Re: Another IMPERIAL

Post by gsmith7158 »

Very nice utility Tj. You've got to remember that the founders of Imperial cut their teeth, so to speak as Cutlers with the Empire Knife Company in Winsted, Connecticut. They knew a little bit about making a quality knife. ::tu::
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kamagong
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Re: Another IMPERIAL

Post by kamagong »

Here's an Imperial Cattleman. It's not as nice as my GECs, but Imperial sure knew how to grind a blade. I don't remember being able to sharpen another slipjoint so quickly and easily.
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tjmurphy
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Re: Another IMPERIAL

Post by tjmurphy »

That's very nice KG. IMPERIAL used some of the nicest Rogers bone and thus far I've not been disappointed. I have three of these Navy Aviation knives and all have gorgeous bone handles. The pattern you show was referred to as a "U.S. Army Air Corps Utility" knife. I have one of that pattern by CAMILLUS.

tongueriver, I know, they are special

K7K, as things seem to be going, when we take an interest in something, so does everyone else. And you're right, they are Grrrrrrrrrr8 knives, very solid.

bdev, you don't want any of those old contract knives. You usually have to oil them and everything ::poke::

I didn't know that, Greg, or at least don't remember knowing it ::dang::
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Re: Another IMPERIAL

Post by philco »

Nice one TJ. ::tu::

I've got a few of those old Imperials myself and they are very nicely made knives with excellent blade steel.
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Re: Another IMPERIAL

Post by KnifeSlinger#81 »

kamagong wrote:Here's an Imperial Cattleman. It's not as nice as my GECs, but Imperial sure knew how to grind a blade. I don't remember being able to sharpen another slipjoint so quickly and easily.

Now that's a swell cattle knife. Did I mention I really like cattle knives :D
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Re: Another IMPERIAL

Post by TripleF »

Love it TJ!! Love the cattle knife too!

Hoping I stumble on another Imperial cattle knife with jigged bone scales some day......I'll keep that one!!
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Re: Another IMPERIAL

Post by KnifeSlinger#81 »

gsmith7158 wrote:You've got to remember that the founders of Imperial cut their teeth, so to speak as Cutlers with the Empire Knife Company in Winsted, Connecticut. They knew a little bit about making a quality knife. ::tu::
I didn't know that. Very cool.
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Re: Another IMPERIAL

Post by jerryd6818 »

Dang T.J. Now you've got me all envious and stuff.
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Re: Another IMPERIAL

Post by gsmith7158 »

KnifeSlinger#81 wrote:
gsmith7158 wrote:You've got to remember that the founders of Imperial cut their teeth, so to speak as Cutlers with the Empire Knife Company in Winsted, Connecticut. They knew a little bit about making a quality knife. ::tu::
I didn't know that. Very cool.
Here's a piece of Codger's research over on BF.

Other interesting tidbits emerged from this research. When Michael Mirando first arrived in America from his native Frosilona Italy, he was unable to find work in his chosen craft, cutlery. He soon returned to his native Italy, but was back in America working at Empire Knife Company in Winsted by 1909. His brother Felix Mirando joined him there in 1910, and they stayed with Empire until 1916. At that time, the two brothers decided to go into business for themselves. They moved to Providence, Rhode Island to be near the jewelry industry, and began making skeletons for “waldemar”, or pocket watch chain knives. Thus another company, Imperial Knife Company, spun off from Empire and came to become the largest knife company in the country, and eventually, one of the largest in the world.

Codger
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Re: Another IMPERIAL

Post by tjmurphy »

jerryd6818 wrote:Dang T.J. Now you've got me all envious and stuff.
Welp, I guess my secret's out! ::dang::
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Re: Another IMPERIAL

Post by Tsar Bomba »

TripleF wrote:Hoping I stumble on another Imperial cattle knife with jigged bone scales some day......I'll keep that one!!
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Re: Another IMPERIAL

Post by TripleF »

That's the one Tony.....
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Re: Another IMPERIAL

Post by bighomer »

Could be a mechanic's special, master blade looks unused while the bone looks like it has a lot of pocket wear. ::shrug::
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Re: Another IMPERIAL

Post by TripleF »

Mmmmm. ..mmm. ...mmmm Joe. That is a beauty.
That spear blade is MAC!!
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Re: Another IMPERIAL

Post by KnifeSlinger#81 »

bighomer wrote:Could be a mechanic's special, master blade looks unused while the bone looks like it has a lot of pocket wear. ::shrug::
I don't think that bone has much pocket wear. Rogers bone seems to vary quite a bit in color, jigging depth and fullness. I think your knife is 100% original. Just my opinion, I'm no expert.
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tjmurphy
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Re: Another IMPERIAL

Post by tjmurphy »

Here's a four-line CAMILLUS that I have
MVC-085F.JPG
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