Vintage Key Chain Pocket Knives

[vikingdog]

Lately I've been buying little key chain pocket knives at the flea market. I remember them from when I was a kid and you could win them as prizes or buy them off of a cardboard display at the local hobby shop. Some of them were sold souvenirs with a name place on them, probably never meant to be used and others seem to be fairly well made with decent steel blades and strong snap. I've been finding them for a dollar or two, most are about 2".

The first one is by Imperial and is near mint. The blade is in shadow or something in this photo, it looks much better than that.

The second one is a Hammer Brand, the one below a Colonial, then a pair of Kents which were made by Camillus. The last one is just marked U.S.A.

Does anyone else have any to show?

[whitebuffalo58]

Nice start, v-dog!
I don't really collect these, but somehow they do seem to accumulate. They range anywhere from POS to gold filled, sterling silver and some have pretty decent MOP. The variety is almost neverending. Someone once said that some of the older ones were actually made by apprentice cutlers as a test of their skills. Kinda sounds like an Ebay sales gimmick, but who knows?
Kinda fun to have a few in your collection, at any rate.

WB

[knifetime]

Well guy's I like them all. I keep all the miniature and watch fob knives that comes my way. I have a real rare Fight'en Rooster and some Bulldog's. I will have to take some pics and post them hear.
WB- if you ever want to do some trading on a few in that box let me know,I see some real cool one's.
Vdog- That eo is a real minty one,sweet knife. All are defiant keepers.

[Miller Bro's]

Nice ones check here

http://www.allaboutpocketknives.com/kni ... 35&t=28817

[vikingdog]

Thanks Dimitri! Some nice ones in that thread. The fob knives look to be nicer and more of a piece of jewelry than the key chain knives. I have one here that may qualify as a fob knife. It's unmarked but is of good quality.

Thank you white buffalo, nice collection! I look forward to seeing yours knifetime.

[gajinoz]

I only have one, it was given to me by a friend in America who has since died so it's a bit of a sentimental piece.

I'd certainly like to get more though.

Maybe I'll look around here and see if anyone is selling some.

Anyway here is my one and only ....

[/quote]

[vikingdog]

Nice little knife.

[whitebuffalo58]

There are a few more in this display. None of these have ever been carried or used.

WB

[TripleF]

Awesome thread!! Cool knives guys!

[ozzie marie]

Vintage Key Chain Knife

George Schrade Yale Key Knife

Keith

[vikingdog]

Very cool Keith!

[garddogg56]

Nice mini's guys.love that Yale.a few of mine top two are Hammer brand and Imperial,middle fob is 100years old.Imperial opener and fixed.the last 3 are Colonials.

[Miller Bro's]

I have one of those Yale Key knives too.

[Joe Dirt]

WoW! I can't match those Schrade key knives - but here are a few of mine.

...... Joe

[vikingdog]

Awesome Joe Dirt! Who made the Midgets? What do they have on the tang?

[Joe Dirt]

Glad ya like um, Mike! The Midgets have U.S.A. stamped on them. The "Always A Sharp Buy" slogan belonged to Ideal.

...... Joe

[Miller Bro's]

This one by Utica

[vikingdog]

The one I have that just says USA on the tang must be a Midget, it looks a lot like the ones on your card Joe.

Beautiful display Dimitri, thanks for showing it. I'd love to walk into a store that had a display like that and buy a few of those knives.

I didn't see any prices on the displays, do you guys have an idea how much the knives sold for?

[singin46]

Love seein these allll the time! I do now have a few of these as well. That's some nice stuff you guys have there Mike, Joe and Dimitri! D, that Utica card is the first one I've ever seen and that Midget as well Joe! WOW
Here's a little bit of my passion. Last pic is a copy of Joe's card that he was gracious enough to make for me.

[singin46]

Hey Mike, I can't speak for the Utica knives but the Imperials went for around 30 cents.

[vikingdog]

Wow Perry, very nice displays! Do you have an idea when they are from? Looks like maybe 1950s?

[singin46]

They're all dated Mike, Topsy is from 1948, SportsMaster is from 1939, Jackmaster is from 1940.

[Joe Dirt]

If you look closely at the top of the "Midget" card - you can see that it's marked 29 cents!
There's no copywright date on it but I'm thinking it's from the '50s.

The "Shorty" cards have a copywright date of 1948. This card was still used in 1959 and
can be found on P.10 of the 1959 catalog at schrades-r-us.

http://www.collectors-of-schrades-r.us/ ... perial.pdf

..... Joe

[gajinoz]

There are some great looking collections here, really interesting stuff.

[singin46]

thank you gaj!