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2 Vintage carbon? shells

Posted: Fri May 30, 2025 9:40 pm
by occam
Believe these to have been my FIL's. They cut like nobody's business. The larger merely say "Patent No. 2,297,855 U.S.A." while the smaller says "Imperial Prov. R. I. USA".
1. Why didn't Utica put their name on the knife?
2. Would these most likely be 1095?
3. Are these probably from the 1960's or 1970's?
20250530_161905.jpg

Re: 2 Vintage carbon? shells

Posted: Fri May 30, 2025 10:09 pm
by knifeaholic
It is odd that Utica did not tang stamp theirs with their name. Possibly since they were a cheaper line of knives and they did not want to tarnish the Utica brand name. I have heard that Imperial used 1095 steel for their blades, not sure about the Utica. Both are most likely fropm the 50's to 60's but the Imperial could be later. Imperial closed the plant in the USA that made those in about 1986.

Re: 2 Vintage carbon? shells

Posted: Sat May 31, 2025 2:43 pm
by occam
Thanks, @knifeaholic!

Re: 2 Vintage carbon? shells

Posted: Sat May 31, 2025 3:22 pm
by Reverand
Those both have great steel. Back then an inexpensive knife was still a good knife, just not as durable or as heavy as their better knives. If you take care of them and use them, they will easily last longer than you!

Re: 2 Vintage carbon? shells

Posted: Sat May 31, 2025 9:16 pm
by occam
Thanks, @Reverand!