Imperials

Schrade Cutlery Company was founded in 1904 by George Schrade, and his brothers Jacob and William Schrade. In 1946 Imperial Knife Associated Companies, (IKAC; an association of Ulster Knife Co and Imperial Knife Co) purchased controlling interest in Schrade Cut Co and changed the name to Schrade Walden Cutlery. In 1973 the name was changed to Schrade Cutlery. In 2004 Schrade closed due to bankruptcy.

This forum is dedicated to the knives that are the legacy of this company. This forum is not the place to discuss the replica knives currently being imported using the Schrade name.
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jxr1197
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Imperials

Post by jxr1197 »

Seems like there ought to be a thread for them here. Looked around and didn't see one, so...

This one is new to me this week. It's a post war Hammer Brand with a made-in-Japan compass. I haven't come across it in available catalogs from the time.
hbguidmaster.jpg
- Jason
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Re: Old Imperials

Post by KnifeSlinger#81 »

That's cool, I like it! ::tu::
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Re: Old Imperials

Post by New_Windsor_NY »

jxr1197 wrote: Thu Dec 05, 2019 5:50 pm Seems like there ought to be a thread for them here. Looked around and didn't see one, so...

This one is new to me this week. It's a post war Hammer Brand with a made-in-Japan compass. I haven't come across it in available catalogs from the time.
Nice one Jason! ::tu:: Could you clarify "old" please.
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Meridian_Mike
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Re: Old Imperials

Post by Meridian_Mike »

I have this guy.....
He is from about 1950 I think.....
Imperial Auto 1950 1.JPG
Imperial Auto 1950 2.JPG
AND..... I have a Folding Hunter.....
Maybe from the 70's (??).....
5 inch folding hunter 2.jpg
5 inch folding hunter 4.jpg
AND..... this here easy opener.....
Navy General Utility 1.JPG
Sounds like FUN.....Let's see some more.....
::tu::
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Re: Old Imperials

Post by jxr1197 »

Thanks Paul.
New_Windsor_NY wrote: Thu Dec 05, 2019 6:15 pm Nice one Jason! ::tu:: Could you clarify "old" please.
I can't define it but I know it when I see it - :lol:
I'm not sure where a cut off should be - they're all pretty old by now. In my head I was thinking Imperials other than Apex/Tradesman or anything from Jowika but I wouldn't hold it against anyone who wanted to share those here too. Maybe I should have just named the thread 'Imperials'. Oh well ::shrug::
Meridian_Mike wrote: Thu Dec 05, 2019 6:44 pm He is from about 1950 I think.....
Great show Mike ::tu:: - especially the automatic. I can't see it clearly but it does look like it's got the 46-56 stamp.

BTW I've got the same EO
eoimperial.jpg
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Re: Old Imperials

Post by FRJ »

Here's some old Imperials.
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Re: Old Imperials

Post by KnifeSlinger#81 »

jxr1197 wrote: Thu Dec 05, 2019 7:09 pm
New_Windsor_NY wrote: Thu Dec 05, 2019 6:15 pm Nice one Jason! ::tu:: Could you clarify "old" please.
I can't define it but I know it when I see it - :lol:
I'm not sure where a cut off should be - they're all pretty old by now. In my head I was thinking Imperials other than Apex/Tradesman or anything from Jowika but I wouldn't hold it against anyone who wanted to share those here too. Maybe I should have just named the thread 'Imperials'. Oh well ::shrug::
Well since we are in the schrade forum it would be topically appropriate to keep the imperials shown in the 1946-2004 range when they were under the same ownership. Just my opinion.
-Paul T.

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Re: Imperials

Post by Meridian_Mike »

That sounds fair.....
Good call.

::tu::
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Re: Imperials

Post by tongueriver »

Actually 1904-1947 Schrades are welcome here, so we could maybe fudge a little on the older Imperials; it wouldn't hurt my feelings.
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Re: Imperials

Post by jxr1197 »

Good points by all on what years are relevant. I gotta go with all of 'em - 1916 through the end. Schrade was insolvent after the war and probably would have closed down if Domenic Fazzano didn't suggest to Baer that IKAC should buy them. Imperial is the reason we aren't a bunch of Case collectors :shock: . Besides, they made some sweet knives in the 20s and 30s - like Joe's collection above. ::tu::
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Re: Imperials

Post by OLDE CUTLER »

Some old Imperials:

2 EZ open jacks, black composition and bone
IMG_3321.JPG
Cattle knife
IMG_3322.JPG
jack with green swirl celluloid
IMG_3323.JPG
Scout rehandled with ebony
IMG_3324.JPG
"Sometimes even the blind chicken finds corn"
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Re: Imperials

Post by jxr1197 »

OLDE CUTLER wrote: Thu Dec 05, 2019 11:51 pm Some old Imperials:
Exceptional examples OC! That orange cel beauty is my favorite in that group.


I have another knife to post - this one showed up in today's mail. It's a 1.5" single blade from the 50s or 60s but I was actually after the Albert chain that it's dangling from. No idea if that's something that came with the knife.
Imperialchain.jpg
- Jason
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Re: Imperials

Post by bladebuddy »

Thank you Jason for starting this thread. Most of what we see of Imperial knives are the shell handled variety or black plastic camp knives. I’m glad to see some bone and celluloid covers.
I’ve collected this group over the past two years.

Olde Cutler the handles on your cattle knife are just wild. I’m liking the green swirl too. Thanks for posting.
Steve B.
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Re: Imperials

Post by edge213 »

1920-30s
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Re: Imperials

Post by Meridian_Mike »

Oh yes!
Now those are some real beauties!
Great show!

::tu::
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Re: Imperials

Post by doglegg »

OLDE CUTLER wrote: Thu Dec 05, 2019 11:51 pm Some old Imperials:

2 EZ open jacks, black composition and bone
IMG_3321.JPG
Cattle knife
IMG_3322.JPG
jack with green swirl celluloid
IMG_3323.JPG
Scout rehandled with ebony
IMG_3324.JPG
OC, that bone EO is the one who sings to me. But great group. ::nod:: ::tu::
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Re: Imperials

Post by OLDE CUTLER »

bladebuddy wrote: Fri Dec 06, 2019 12:28 am Thank you Jason for starting this thread. Most of what we see of Imperial knives are the shell handled variety or black plastic camp knives. I’m glad to see some bone and celluloid covers.
I’ve collected this group over the past two years.

Olde Cutler the handles on your cattle knife are just wild. I’m liking the green swirl too. Thanks for posting.
Steve B.
When my 7 year old great niece saw the cattle knife, she said "EWWWWW, it has spiders all over it"!
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Re: Imperials

Post by Meridian_Mike »

I was lookin' around the forum for IK Co, USA and it looks like this might be an Imperial...
(Am I right?)

It's a boys knife and I think from what I have see on the forum this tang stamp was pre 1940....

What y'all think?
IK co 4.jpg
IK co 3.jpg
IK co 1.jpg
Sorry.... pics aren't very clear.... these are the sellers pics.
Mike
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Re: Imperials

Post by tongueriver »

I am pretty short on post-war Imperials; oddly, there is one rumoured to be coming my way. Meanwhile, here is an older one that I like.
imp3.jpg
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Re: Imperials

Post by jxr1197 »

bladebuddy wrote: Fri Dec 06, 2019 12:28 am Thank you Jason for starting this thread.
::tu::

Meridian_Mike wrote: Fri Dec 06, 2019 9:10 pmWhat y'all think?
Definitely Imperial but I think (don't quote me on this) that shell handles started in the late 30s (38?, 39?) so if it was made in the 30s it'd have to of been within spitting distance of 1940.


There are some amazing knives on here since the last time I looked! I'll add this little stainless pen knife from the 20s or 30s.
stainlessimperial.jpg
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Re: Imperials

Post by Meridian_Mike »

Thanks for puttin' the "chicken eye" on my knife Jason.
I wasn't sure if it was a shell handle or a solid handle "boys knife".
BUT... I guess with that bolster it probably is a shell handle.

Nice knife you have there too!!
Are those celluloid handles?.... YIKES!

Either way.... it's a beauty!
::tu::
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Re: Imperials

Post by jxr1197 »

Meridian_Mike wrote: Mon Dec 09, 2019 12:48 pmAre those celluloid handles?.... YIKES!
As bad as cel was it's hard not to recognize that it was the prettiest plastic ever used. I have more of them than I'm comfortable with but I keep 'em segregated.

Here's a salesman kit from the 70's, maybe 80s? I don't think I've ever posted this one before.
impgmclosed.jpg
impgmopen.jpg
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Re: Imperials

Post by Meridian_Mike »

That Salesman's kit is REALLY COOL!!

::tu::
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Re: Imperials

Post by bladecollectorr »

jxr1197 wrote: Tue Dec 10, 2019 12:14 am Here's a salesman kit from the 70's, maybe 80s? I don't think I've ever posted this one before.
That's a really cool (and complete!) kit. The inclusion of the "Mighty Oak" trade-mark on the money-clip knife dates it to the '80s I believe.

The earliest Mighty Oak flyer readily available is 1982 and the last 1988.

http://collectors-of-schrades-r.us/FLYE ... /index.htm
I don't always respond to great posts but I always appreciate seeing them. Thanks for posting! ::tu::
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Re: Imperials

Post by bladecollectorr »

I bought this "La Cuisine" set to use about a year ago. I gave the handles a good soak in mineral oil as they were really dried out. The styling screams '70s to me. Handles are comfortable to use and nicely grained. I like these knives.

http://collectors-of-schrades-r.us/FLYE ... can007.htm

http://collectors-of-schrades-r.us/FLYE ... can006.htm


Please forgive the fast and imperfect photo merge. The carving knife has a huge 12" blade so it took two passes on the scanner to get it all.
La Cuisine 4-pc set.jpg
More pics taken before the handles were soaked. The carver's handle really changed colour.
01.jpg
02.jpg
04.jpg
05.jpg
07.jpg
11.jpg
12.jpg
I don't always respond to great posts but I always appreciate seeing them. Thanks for posting! ::tu::
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