"World's Smallest" pocket knife

Mason · Post by **Mason** » Thu Nov 22, 2012 12:29 am

At 1-1/2 inches closed, this Imperial "Shorty" model is certainly not the worlds smallest folding knife but is probably the smallest production folder from an American knife company. Imperial offered a wide range of small pocket knives called "Midgets" in the 1950s and 1960s, but most averaged around 2 inches closed. All in all, this is a fairly well built little model but must have taken keen eyes, small fingers, and a little cursing to put together.

Quick Steel · Post by **Quick Steel** » Thu Nov 22, 2012 12:56 am

Interesting. Thanks for the info.

philco · Post by **philco** » Thu Nov 22, 2012 1:00 am

That's cool ! Never heard of the "Shorty" before.

jerryd6818 · Post by **jerryd6818** » Thu Nov 22, 2012 2:29 am

Oh, Phil. Don't leave yourself open like that.

reddirtknives · Post by **reddirtknives** » Thu Nov 22, 2012 7:32 am

<---- laughing

shugy · Post by **shugy** » Thu Nov 22, 2012 4:07 pm

:)Oh boy , a tiny knives thread! good one jerry, nothing need be said

Happy Turkey Day

CCBill · Post by **CCBill** » Thu Nov 22, 2012 4:13 pm

Hi Mason. I would delete my post if I could

. Maybe a Moderator can do it for me.Those are some neat little Imperials. I apologize for invading your space...CCBill...

shugy · Post by **shugy** » Thu Nov 22, 2012 4:18 pm

I am humbled in their presence, Bill.

1967redrider · Post by **1967redrider** » Fri Nov 23, 2012 12:03 am

Wait 'til singin sees this one.

313 Mike · Post by **313 Mike** » Fri Nov 23, 2012 4:14 pm

...Oh boy...here we go....

This little guy virtually disappears into the palm of my hand. It generally doesn't spend much time there though, as it is too small to be useful for much, other than taking out to fondle once in a while.... my wife swears she like likes it though, she says it's cute! Part of me suspects she's just being nice though....

Mike

shugy · Post by **shugy** » Fri Nov 23, 2012 4:20 pm

Inuendo, Inuendo, Inuendo, Mike you should be ashamed

!!

Joe Dirt · Post by **Joe Dirt** » Fri Nov 23, 2012 6:49 pm

That's a great ad with the little knives, Mason!

Do you know what year the ad is from?
Your knife doesn't look to have a stamp on it! First I've seen without a stamp.

I've been able to date the "Imperial Stainless" stamp back to 1956 so far.
Have you got any info on there "Stainless" stamp?

Thanks for showing it!!!!

..... Joe

singin46 · Post by **singin46** » Fri Nov 23, 2012 7:53 pm

Joe and I have literally tons of these little beauties. Ok Joe might have more, not sure. Even though these are very small, they have half stops and are very tight knives for smaller needs. they fascinate me to no end!

gino · Post by **gino** » Fri Nov 23, 2012 7:58 pm

I think I own the worlds smallest tactical knife?

Here is a tiny Spyderco next to a tiny Hammer

singin46 · Post by **singin46** » Fri Nov 23, 2012 8:02 pm

Nice Gino!

MITCH RAPP · Post by **MITCH RAPP** » Fri Nov 23, 2012 8:19 pm

Hey Gino! You know those Knives (Weapons) are illegal in California!

Mason · Post by **Mason** » Sat Nov 24, 2012 12:14 am

Thanks all for the comments and big pictures of little knives.

Mason · Post by **Mason** » Sat Nov 24, 2012 12:24 am

Joe Dirt wrote:That's a great ad with the little knives, Mason!
Do you know what year the ad is from?
Your knife doesn't look to have a stamp on it! First I've seen without a stamp.

I've been able to date the "Imperial Stainless" stamp back to 1956 so far.
Have you got any info on there "Stainless" stamp?

Thanks for showing it!!!!

..... Joe

Hi Joe, the ad is from a 1953 Imperial catalog and I believe there is no stamp on this model because there was no room for one. This blade and tang area is smaller in size than all of the other "Midget" models and even though the "Midget's" have a very small stamp, it would not fit on this little guy.

The earliest "Stainless" stamp that I know of is also from the 1953 catalog. There is not one shown in the 1949 or 1952 Imperial catalogs.

Mason · Post by **Mason** » Sun Dec 09, 2012 6:36 pm

There have been some neat small folders posted here and it would be interesting to see some more.
Here is a nicely built little German two blade pearl folder from "Bonsa" with brass liners and nickel silver bolsters. "Bonsa" (trademark of "Boentgen & Sabin") went out of business in 1983 and this model probably dates to around the 1950s.

jerryd6818 · Post by **jerryd6818** » Sat Dec 15, 2012 5:04 pm

I tend to forget about this little knife so it didn't get posted when this thread was active. It was a gift from Linnea's oldest daughter. (I think. Could have been one of my cousins.) Anyway, we call it the "Mosquito Skinner".

Mason · Post by **Mason** » Tue Dec 18, 2012 2:33 am

jerryd6818 wrote:I tend to forget about this little knife so it didn't get posted when this thread was active. It was a gift from Linnea's oldest daughter. (I think. Could have been one of my cousins.) Anyway, we call it the "Mosquito Skinner".

Neat little skinner, but there can't be much meat on a mosquito???

jerryd6818 · Post by **jerryd6818** » Tue Dec 18, 2012 2:48 am

It's the hides. The hides go for a bunch of money.

Mason · Post by **Mason** » Tue Dec 18, 2012 3:17 am

jerryd6818 wrote:It's the hides. The hides go for a bunch of money.

That one cracked me up as I was trying to picture a "Skeeter" coat.

knife7knut · Post by **knife7knut** » Tue Jan 08, 2013 4:26 am

Here's a few I may or may not have posted before.Background is 1 inch squares.Enjoy.

Mason · Post by **Mason** » Tue Jan 08, 2013 11:18 pm

knife7knut wrote:Here's a few I may or may not have posted before.Background is 1 inch squares.Enjoy.

Great bunch of small knives "knife7knut", thanks for the pictures.
Can you tell me who the maker is of the top three in the first picture and their approximate age?
I would also love to know any other unusual names or makers among the bunch.

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