inperial high carbon steel

[roger bennett]

inperial pocket knives, blade steel does anyone know on there carbon knife blades, is it 1075 or 1095 or some other type of carbon steel. thank you very much if you reply. roger bennett

[woodwalker]

Roger I think they are 1095. Although there are folks that know way more than me. I am pretty sure I read that on here somewhere. I know it's well thought of and gets wicked sharp easily. I like the Imperials very much and you can pick them up at a very nice price.

[philco]

When those Imperial knives were made consumers were much less interested in or even aware of steel types other than if it was stainless or not. I’m not certain about the particular steel they used but I am definitely a fan. I’ve got a couple of old Imperials in my EDC pile and they both have excellent blade steel.

[Paladin]

When those Imperial knives were made consumers were much less interested in or even aware of steel types other than if it was stainless or not. I’m not certain about the particular steel they used but I am definitely a fan. I’ve got a couple of old Imperials in my EDC pile and they both have excellent blade steel.

Amen!

Ray

[kootenay joe]

Knife companies often did not reveal what steel they used for their blades. Steel type is less important than the heat treatment in creating a good blade. Hence as stated above, the exact steel is not important to know. What is important is experience: do the blades get sharp and hold the sharp edge ?
kj

[RevolverGuy]

Finding out would probably require filing off a piece and having it tested. Most likely the same steel used in tools from the time period. I'll say vintage Imperial's do sharpen and hold an edge nicely though.

[roger bennett]

thanks guys for your help, roger

[knifeaholic]

I no longer have a copy of this book, but in The Pocketknife Manual, written in the 1970's by Blackie Collins, Blackie interviews Felix Mirando, head of Imperial Knife co. IIRC, Mirando states that the blade steel used in the Imperial knives was 1095.

Maybe if someone has the book, they can verify that.