Can Imperials be dated?

zorrothegreyblade · Post by **zorrothegreyblade** » Thu Feb 21, 2008 12:04 am

I am now the proud owner of two (yes two, I've counted them) American knives! Living in the UK and doing most of my collecting at car boot and flea markets (yes I am a cheapskate and proud of it!) I very rarely see US knives for sale, but I picked this little baby up and was told it was 1930's vintage? I like the knife and when it was made is not important to me, but I am just curious as to its possible age. As ever, thanks for looking

Cope · Post by **Cope** » Thu Feb 21, 2008 12:20 am

zorro I'll post a copy of Imperial tang stamps from this site (I believe) that I copied and kept for myself. My 2 cents on the Imperials is that they are sleeper's for the years to come, especially the older ones. Right now for the money, I think the old Imperials are a very good buy. I have sworn off celluloid and the only older ones I buy now are bone handled. They do have some really nice cell knives though. I have some of the hollow handle fish knives which I like very well. You sound like you do anyway but buy what you like. From the increase I've seen in older knives in just the past couple of years, if something don't give they will be almost unattainable to guys like me in just a short time. I think then that even these older Imperials will increase in value. Has anyone ever seen an Imperial with stag handles? I've not, but that don't mean they didn't make a few.

Brad

OK I couldn't post the sheet I wanted to so I'll try to find it and post a copy of the link. I'm almost sure it was on here!

zorrothegreyblade · Post by **zorrothegreyblade** » Thu Feb 21, 2008 12:55 am

Cope wrote:zorro I'll post a copy of Imperial tang stamps from this site (I believe) that I copied and kept for myself. My 2 cents on the Imperials is that they are sleeper's for the years to come, especially the older ones. Right now for the money, I think the old Imperials are a very good buy. I have sworn off celluloid and the only older ones I buy now are bone handled. They do have some really nice cell knives though. I have some of the hollow handle fish knives which I like very well. You sound like you do anyway but buy what you like. From the increase I've seen in older knives in just the past couple of years, if something don't give they will be almost unattainable to guys like me in just a short time. I think then that even these older Imperials will increase in value. Has anyone ever seen an Imperial with stag handles? I've not, but that don't mean they didn't make a few.

Brad

OK I couldn't post the sheet I wanted to so I'll try to find it and post a copy of the link. I'm almost sure it was on here!

Thanks Brad

Gunsmoke47 · Post by **Gunsmoke47** » Thu Feb 21, 2008 1:45 am

Zorro, according to Goins....Imperial PROV. R.I. USA on right side vertical, small crown over the ia in Imperial, 1954 to 1988. Smoke

zorrothegreyblade · Post by **zorrothegreyblade** » Thu Feb 21, 2008 11:18 pm

Gunsmoke47 wrote:Zorro, according to Goins....Imperial PROV. R.I. USA on right side vertical, small crown over the ia in Imperial, 1954 to 1988. Smoke

Thanks Gunsmoke