Empire Knife Company

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galvanic1882
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Re: Empire Knife Company

Post by galvanic1882 »

That is one nice looking knife!!
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Re: Empire Knife Company

Post by BWT »

Very nice Jason, can't help you with the dating, but it is really nice ::tu:: ::tu::
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Re: Empire Knife Company

Post by FRJ »

That is a beautiful jack knife, Jason. ::tu::
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Re: Empire Knife Company

Post by LongBlade »

Cool pattern Jason ::tu:: ... It is really hard to date this knife based on that tang stamp for Empire as that one from my experience is one most often seen and I often associate it with the later years... there is another Empire stamp that notes West Winsted and that one is abit earlier in the time frame but perhaps the best bet would be to see when that pattern may have been listed in one of their old catalogs (some Empire catalog info is in Col Mayes book "Knife Album"... I can take a look later but don't have the book in front of me..
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Re: Empire Knife Company

Post by jxr1197 »

Thanks for the comments guys ::tu::
Lee, I was guessing it was made later in the company's history based on the deco vibe from the washington bolsters but that's pure conjecture on my part. I tried to find a catalog image of the knife - that was short and disappointing search.
- Jason
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Re: Empire Knife Company

Post by LongBlade »

jxr1197 wrote:Thanks for the comments guys ::tu::
Lee, I was guessing it was made later in the company's history based on the deco vibe from the washington bolsters but that's pure conjecture on my part. I tried to find a catalog image of the knife - that was short and disappointing search.
Jason - I just checked the Col Mayes book and it seems Empire did make that knife with genuine stag for Norvell-Shapleigh... Here's a photo from the catalog in the book - same handles, bolster and blades but ignore the shield as Empire put the diamond shields on the knives when produced for Shapleigh and in fact stamped them with the Norvell-Shapleigh mark... since Norvell-Shapleigh was early 1900s I would guess that is the ballpark for dating..
Empire Washington Pattern w Stag.jpg
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Re: Empire Knife Company

Post by jxr1197 »

LongBlade wrote:Jason - I just checked the Col Mayes book and it seems Empire did make that knife with genuine stag for Norvell-Shapleigh... Here's a photo from the catalog in the book - same handles, bolster and blades but ignore the shield as Empire put the diamond shields on the knives when produced for Shapleigh and in fact stamped them with the Norvell-Shapleigh mark... since Norvell-Shapleigh was early 1900s I would guess that is the ballpark for dating..
That's fantastic! Thank you.
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Re: Empire Knife Company

Post by LongBlade »

Jason - ::tu:: ::handshake:: ...
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Re: Empire Knife Company

Post by FRJ »

Good post, Lee. ::tu::
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Re: Empire Knife Company

Post by jxr1197 »

This diamond in the rough might be an Empire - looking for opinions. The tang stamp places it between 1888-1902 and I believe Empire made a lot of Shapleigh's knives back then but not sure if this is one of them. It's 3-5/8" closed and it's an unusual pattern - a gunstock stockman (one blade is snapped.)
Empire DE.jpg
- Jason
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Re: Empire Knife Company

Post by edge213 »

I posted this in the Barlow thread, but thought I would post it here also.
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Re: Empire Knife Company

Post by KAW »

Thanks to Joe (FRJ), I've caught the Connecticut knife fever. ::doh::
Not really a far jump from the Hudson Valley region of New York as many of the cutlers there originated in the Nutmeg State.
...but it has taken a bit of effort over the last few months to finally land the few (...that's all of three) that I've acquired.

I found this Empire electrician's knife a bit unusual in that it is a single blade lockback.
I guess the edge of the screwdriver could be used as a knife blade?

10879
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Re: Empire Knife Company

Post by FRJ »

Nice knives posted on this page, guys.

Ken, Empire must have made a lot of those electrician's knives. In various patterns.
I may have one like yours. Nice looking knife, yours.

Well, these Connecticut knives are pretty sweet. I hope you find some more. ::nod::
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Re: Empire Knife Company

Post by LongBlade »

Nice Empire Ken ::tu:: ::tu:: ... But unlike Joe's advice stay away from CT knives - they are not healthy for you :lol: :lol: :lol: ...
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Re: Empire Knife Company

Post by gsmith7158 »

Ken that single blade lockback Empire Electricians knife was apparently a sort of signature knife for Empire. Ya just gotta have one if you're going to collect Empires! ::tu:: ::nod::
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Greg

IF YOU AIN'T BUYING OR LOOKING AT A KNIFE THEN YOU AIN'T LIVING.
Always looking to buy good quality Empire knives.

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Re: Empire Knife Company

Post by gsmith7158 »

I've been reminiscing and rereading this thread tonight and my goodness what fine knives Empire made. I may have to double down on my efforts to acquire new candidates. They have certainly been slow in coming of late. ::nod::
Edit: The only problem with this thought is that most people who have some nice Empires ain't selling em. ::hmm::
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Greg

IF YOU AIN'T BUYING OR LOOKING AT A KNIFE THEN YOU AIN'T LIVING.
Always looking to buy good quality Empire knives.

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Re: Empire Knife Company

Post by gsmith7158 »

My first Empire in a while came in this week. It is a pattern that I didn't have and they don't show up much so I went out on a limb a bit with this one but I must say I am pleased. If nothing else it will be a good place holder until a better one comes along. At 4 3/8 inches closed I would say it qualifies as an English Jack lockback. The blade shows some shallow pitting but appears to be full and lightly sharpened. And of course it has ebony handles ,one of my favorites. :D

Edit looks like the catalog cut from The Knife Album is my knife.
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Greg

IF YOU AIN'T BUYING OR LOOKING AT A KNIFE THEN YOU AIN'T LIVING.
Always looking to buy good quality Empire knives.

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Re: Empire Knife Company

Post by LongBlade »

Real nice score Greg ::tu:: ::tu:: ... definitely a pattern not seen often!! Despite the pitting the blade has a nice shape - swedge and all.... very cool 8) ...
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Re: Empire Knife Company

Post by FRJ »

Greg, congratulations on a real beauty. That is just fine. ::tu::
Yeah, love that Ebony.
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Re: Empire Knife Company

Post by gsmith7158 »

Thanks Lee and Joe! :D
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Greg

IF YOU AIN'T BUYING OR LOOKING AT A KNIFE THEN YOU AIN'T LIVING.
Always looking to buy good quality Empire knives.

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Re: Empire Knife Company

Post by wlf »

Great pattern and great name. I am amazed that the number of DEs and Shapleighs seem greater than the manufacter's totals. Is it because of the Shapleigh's longevity ?
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Re: Empire Knife Company

Post by gsmith7158 »

wlf wrote:Great pattern and great name. I am amazed that the number of DEs and Shapleighs seem greater than the manufacter's totals. Is it because of the Shapleigh's longevity ?
Thanks Lyle! It does seem that Empire made more knives for other companies than they did under their own brand. Gotta make it any way you can I suppose. :D
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Greg

IF YOU AIN'T BUYING OR LOOKING AT A KNIFE THEN YOU AIN'T LIVING.
Always looking to buy good quality Empire knives.

PROUD MEMBER AAPK, NRA.
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Re: Empire Knife Company

Post by FRJ »

Here's a very sweet little pen. 3 1/16". I wonder if it was supposed to be a three inch knife.
I don't think this knife has been sharpened. It has a very responsive spring and a half stop on the little pen.
A numbered Empire; who knew?
I really love these Ebony covers.

Thanks Barry.

Thanks for looking.
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Re: Empire Knife Company

Post by LongBlade »

Nice old ebony pen Joe ::tu:: ::tu:: ... I have an Empire Bullhead jack that also had a pattern # on the pile side of master - Beechtree shared the catalog cut for my knife a long time back when it was posted and I believe he said in the later years of the 1920s there were pattern #s on some of Empire's knives...
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Re: Empire Knife Company

Post by gsmith7158 »

I think I only have one that has a pattern number on it. Joe that's a nice one but dang we're going to have quit trying to outbid each other. :D
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Greg

IF YOU AIN'T BUYING OR LOOKING AT A KNIFE THEN YOU AIN'T LIVING.
Always looking to buy good quality Empire knives.

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