All About Pocket Knives

Welcome any info or comments on this knife. The key rotates 270 degrees,

some knives were sold with a key blank. Take it to the hardware store or locksmith and have it cut for your house or car. But their was so many brands and key blank numbers so no info on how you got the one you need.

Some of these were marketed as fitting a specified lock brand, like "Yale" for example, which were common locks on P.O. boxes. Some companies made knives that had a removable key blank inserted into the knife frame. You could either have it cut to fit your lock or, if the blank didn't match your key you could send your key to the knife maker, who would customize your key to fit into the knife. See this link to an older thread for more viewtopic.php?f=2&t=58253#p665754.

Ken

I bought this Imperial with an uncut blank. I felt like I paid too much at $120 for an Imp but the uncut blank sealed the deal. I ad it cut for the Camaro in my avatar. Works perfectly and the knife is mint so I'm happy.

I recently bought a group of knives to obtain one, particular, pocket knife. This knife is NOT that particular pocket knife. This knife was included in the group. It is an Imperial, single blade pocket knife with a GM key blank. I went back and looked at the seller's pictures and description. This knife was NOT described in any detail, only shown with the blade open and didn't appear to have a secondary blade or tool. I was VERY surprised and VERY pleased when I took this out and examined it. NO advertising or damage on the handles at all. The bolsters ARE the same color, one just has a shadow on it. The blade looks like it has never been touched and still has a gorgeous, mirror finish. The GM key blank is in pristine shape. It measures 2 3/4" closed. As of this post, there are 3 of these for sale on eBay for $$$$ and 1 for $$. When broken down, price wise, this one cost me a little less than $4.00 Besides the link posted above, here is another link in regards to Imperial knives with key blanks: viewtopic.php?f=4&t=60884&hilit=GM+key+blank

Nice pick-up! Looks like it never got any use. Seems it would have made kind of an awkward key, with the rest of the knife hanging out. However; if you got locked out, would be pretty sweet.

Back when keys were keys. Back then ,they didn't have enough electronics to make a pocket calculator blush. It cost me $3 to get a duplicate key for my truck; since my Granddad lost the set of keys that had the main key we used on it. That's a 1998 Dodge Ram. From what I've seen, on both the 2009 Edge and 2015 Escape; the dealer said if the key broke or got lost, it's $300. Our car insurance does cover lost keys, so that does help. I would honestly say it's impossible to do today with an automotive key, unless the electronic whatchamacallits are integrated into the handle--and it would be huge!

Picked up another Imperial, single blade pocket knife with a GM key, it arrived today. It doesn't appear to be a key blank, but it does appear to be cut.

My example.

doglegg wrote: ↑Wed Mar 06, 2024 4:17 pm My.....

Floyd, thank you for posting it here.
It is a VERY nice example.

:

New_Windsor_NY wrote: ↑Wed Mar 06, 2024 6:02 pm

doglegg wrote: ↑Wed Mar 06, 2024 4:17 pm My.....

Floyd, thank you for posting it here.
It is a VERY nice example.

Most if not all the Imperial key knives I've seen have early GM-style key blanks. These would fit the ignition & door lock only. Another key fit the trunk & glove box.
Here are 3 that I have: a J.C.&N, an Imperial, & a Robeson with a slide out key(Yale). All are uncut.

knife7knut wrote: ↑Thu Mar 07, 2024 1:34 am Most if not all the Imperial key knives I've seen have early GM-style key blanks. These would fit the ignition & door lock only. Another key fit the trunk & glove box.
Here are 3 that I have: a J.C.&N, an Imperial, & a Robeson with a slide out key(Yale). All are uncut.

Very cool.

I picked up this Imperial jack at a fleamarket recently. It has a clip blade and a brass automotive ignition key as the second "blade". The knife would have come new with the key as a blank, this one has been cut for the individual owners vehicle. That would have been kind of handy, until you sold the car. The knife is 2 and 3/4 inches closed, is of shell handled construction. The key is stamped with the number 3061, which would probably denote which vehicle it could be cut to fit. It has the vertical USA tang stamp, 1956-1988.

OLDE CUTLER wrote: ↑Mon May 27, 2024 9:57 pm I picked up this Imperial jack at a fleamarket recently. It has a clip blade and a brass automotive ignition key as the second "blade". The knife would have come new with the key as a blank, this one has been cut for the individual owners vehicle. That would have been kind of handy, until you sold the car. The knife is 2 and 3/4 inches closed, is of shell handled construction. The key is stamped with the number 3061, which would probably denote which vehicle it could be cut to fit. It has the vertical USA tang stamp, 1956-1988.

IMG_5639.JPG

Bummer that its already cut, but the celluloid is nice

I have the opposite situation. A knife with an uncut blank but roached out scales.

ThatWeirdKnifeGuy wrote: ↑Mon May 27, 2024 10:33 pm

OLDE CUTLER wrote: ↑Mon May 27, 2024 9:57 pm I picked up this Imperial jack at a fleamarket recently. It has a clip blade and a brass automotive ignition key as the second "blade". The knife would have come new with the key as a blank, this one has been cut for the individual owners vehicle. That would have been kind of handy, until you sold the car. The knife is 2 and 3/4 inches closed, is of shell handled construction. The key is stamped with the number 3061, which would probably denote which vehicle it could be cut to fit. It has the vertical USA tang stamp, 1956-1988.

IMG_5639.JPG

Bummer that its already cut, but the celluloid is nice

I have the opposite situation. A knife with an uncut blank but roached out scales.

Now I am searching for the car that the key will start. lol

OLDE CUTLER wrote: ↑Tue May 28, 2024 11:27 am Now I am searching for the car that the key will start. lol

"Excuse me sir, that's a nice car, can i try sticking this in there please"

I didn't know that about the numbers though, I always wondered how you might match the car to the knife.

Incidentally, I took mine out to look and it says "Key to Service". I'm wondering does that mean the key has to be "serviced" or cut before use? Or is it a witty business pun or slogan they had put on an advert knife?

I also have one that just says "service"
I'm thinking that it is intended for something like a mail box, glove box, trunk, or door. From back when you had a separate key for the ignition.
I'm only guessing that since the blank seems smaller than the others I've seen.

Incidentally, I took mine out to look and it says "Key to Service". I'm wondering does that mean the key has to be "serviced" or cut before use? Or is it a witty business pun or slogan they had put on an advert knife?
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I believe it means that it is to be used when a car is brought to a shop for servicing. It will only open the door and ignition switch. The trunk and glove box use a separate key. When 5 worked for Mercedes-Benz, they used a master key/valet key system.

I like the handles on this one.......

GringoBombero wrote: ↑Fri Feb 28, 2025 3:45 pm I.....

GringoBombero,

Miller Bro's wrote: ↑Sat Mar 01, 2025 6:39 am I.......

Dimitri,