30s Imperial Tortoise Scout Knife

[NJRaven]

Just wanted to show off this awesome 1930s example of an Imperial Scout Knife. Only issue is I have to replace the badge but luckily I have one from a junker.

I'm a big Imperial guy and I'll tell you its hard to find these anymore, even harder is the white scout knives. If anyone comes across one to sell or trade let me know!

[OLDE CUTLER]

Too bad about those grinder marks on the master blade. Some people just have a fatal attraction to grinding on their knives.

[bestgear]

Looks a lot like this Utica Girl Scout knife that had Pyralin (or pyrohn) handles in random patterns. Rumor is that the floor sweepings were added to the celluloid resulting in the marble-like handles.

[SwedgeHead]

Hammer Brand used those designs quite a bit too, with Imperial taking over in the 30's. Search some of the older Hammer Brands and you will see similarities.

[Mumbleypeg]

Welcome to AAPK! Just an FYI, in case anyone doesn’t know, all the knives in this thread so far - including the OP knife which is described in the post title as “tortoise” - are celluloid.

“Pyr”(from Latin origin) means fire, and many knife makers used a name variation including pyr as their trade name for celluloid. It’s beautiful and unique, but like a lot if beautiful things in this world, it is also “handle with care”!

BTW, what you refer to as a “badge” is actually called a “shield” among knife collectors and in cutlery catalogs and literature. You can refer to it as a badge however and most will know what you mean.

Ken

[tongueriver]

Some good info, there. Also, I might add that Imperial was not associated with Schrade in the 1930s. And one more.... "Real" tortoise covers, as opposed to celluloid, are not tortoise at all. They came from sea turtles.

[Reverand]

Looks like a great old knife!