Imperial Addition to the Family
- tinroof
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Imperial Addition to the Family
Posts on the forum refers to "Imperial Tang list", is that in a second publication? I cannot seem to find in the forum. Therefore I am not finding information on my newest find. Please point me in the right direction. Appreciate any history / info you may offer.
- deltaboy
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- jerryd6818
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Re: Imperial Addition to the Family
Welcome to AAPK.
There's a thread devoted to tang stamps and tang stamp charts here ---> viewtopic.php?f=4&t=39799&p=386211&hili ... ps#p386211
No offense intended but the pictures of your knife are too dark to tell anything about it. I even ran it through my image manipulation program and the quality is too sub-par to improve. May I suggest you take pictures outdoors, in the shade.
There's a thread devoted to tang stamps and tang stamp charts here ---> viewtopic.php?f=4&t=39799&p=386211&hili ... ps#p386211
No offense intended but the pictures of your knife are too dark to tell anything about it. I even ran it through my image manipulation program and the quality is too sub-par to improve. May I suggest you take pictures outdoors, in the shade.
Forged on the anvil of discipline.
The Few. The Proud.
Jerry D.
This country has become more about sub-groups than about it's unity as a nation.
"The #72 pattern has got to be pretty close to the perfect knife."
--T.J. Murphy 2012
The Few. The Proud.
Jerry D.
This country has become more about sub-groups than about it's unity as a nation.
"The #72 pattern has got to be pretty close to the perfect knife."
--T.J. Murphy 2012
- tinroof
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Re: Imperial Addition to the Family
Thanks Jerry, I will get some better (I hope) photo's up soon. 
- tinroof
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Re: Imperial Addition to the Family
Second Attempt !! Better photo's. Don't know if this is a current fact, but what I could find was that the "Imperial" tang has not been used since 1988. This came out of a junk box and is near new in appearance. Has made me curious. Thanks
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knife7knut
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Re: Imperial Addition to the Family
Looks like it might be a,"Pacific Rim" Imperial but that doesn't necessarily mean bad.Not particularly valuable but probably a good working knife.
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- jerryd6818
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Re: Imperial Addition to the Family
That's what I thought Ray but I was to chicken to post it.
Forged on the anvil of discipline.
The Few. The Proud.
Jerry D.
This country has become more about sub-groups than about it's unity as a nation.
"The #72 pattern has got to be pretty close to the perfect knife."
--T.J. Murphy 2012
The Few. The Proud.
Jerry D.
This country has become more about sub-groups than about it's unity as a nation.
"The #72 pattern has got to be pretty close to the perfect knife."
--T.J. Murphy 2012
- philco
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Re: Imperial Addition to the Family
I don't think it's an import. My gut tells me it's USA made. Tinroof can you tell us EXACTLY what the tang stamp says ?
Phil
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Jesus died for you. Are you living for Him?
"Buy More Ammo!"
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knife7knut
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Re: Imperial Addition to the Family
Hey Jerry;I've been wrong before. As Red Green is wont to say:" I'm a man...........but I can change...........if I have to...."jerryd6818 wrote:That's what I thought Ray but I was to chicken to post it.
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- bighomer
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Re: Imperial Addition to the Family
If you go back to the dark photos in the second one you can see the tang says stainless imperial prov.usa. I've got a jack from the same time frame.
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knife7knut
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Re: Imperial Addition to the Family
Good catch!bighomer wrote:If you go back to the dark photos in the second one you can see the tang says stainless imperial prov.usa. I've got a jack from the same time frame.
Adventure BEFORE Dementia!
- jerryd6818
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Re: Imperial Addition to the Family
Hey scoot over and make room for me.knife7knut wrote:Good catch!bighomer wrote:If you go back to the dark photos in the second one you can see the tang says stainless imperial prov.usa. I've got a jack from the same time frame.I will go stand in the "time out" corner now.
Forged on the anvil of discipline.
The Few. The Proud.
Jerry D.
This country has become more about sub-groups than about it's unity as a nation.
"The #72 pattern has got to be pretty close to the perfect knife."
--T.J. Murphy 2012
The Few. The Proud.
Jerry D.
This country has become more about sub-groups than about it's unity as a nation.
"The #72 pattern has got to be pretty close to the perfect knife."
--T.J. Murphy 2012
- bighomer
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- Old Hunter
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Re: Imperial Addition to the Family
Looks like an Imperial Frontier Stockman, but made with the Imperial tang stamp and a different jigging pattern in the Delrin handles. I think that is a nice knife - similar in quality to the late USA made Old Timers. OH
Deep in the guts of most men is buried the involuntary response to the hunter's horn, a prickle of the nape hairs, an acceleration of the pulse, an atavistic memory of his fathers, who killed first with stone, and then with club...Robert Ruark
- tinroof
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Re: Imperial Addition to the Family
I just knew that y'all had seen more and knew more than I had in my found in my struggles, so thanks to all who looked at my question.
Still, this tang stamping is not in the Imperial list you referred to on your pages. So, can you nail down, (even take a best guess) at the year it was made. I have seen some "same style and design" knives listings with 300 series model numbers, but no dating cited.
It would be signifigant to learn it was made in 1988, compared to it's near new condition.
Still, this tang stamping is not in the Imperial list you referred to on your pages. So, can you nail down, (even take a best guess) at the year it was made. I have seen some "same style and design" knives listings with 300 series model numbers, but no dating cited.
It would be signifigant to learn it was made in 1988, compared to it's near new condition.
- bighomer
- Gold Tier

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Re: Imperial Addition to the Family
I doubt you can pin it down to a year or a decade for that matter. It was in my opinion made in the later years of usa knife production, someone may be more help. 
- tinroof
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Re: Imperial Addition to the Family
Thanks for your responses and effort to satisfy my wandering curiosity. My "fill in the blank box" will be Say it ain't so!
I just read that now Smith and Wesson is the new owner, who bought Taylor, who bought Schrade, who bought Imperial. So the fairy tale goes on, and we may never know the end.
I just read that now Smith and Wesson is the new owner, who bought Taylor, who bought Schrade, who bought Imperial. So the fairy tale goes on, and we may never know the end.
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knife7knut
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Re: Imperial Addition to the Family
Maybe S&W will release some new knives like the Blackie Collins designs back in the 70's. Problem is if they did nobody could afford them.I bought one of their folders back then and if I recall correctly it was about $60. Don't know what that would translate in today's money but it wouldn't be cheap.tinroof wrote:Thanks for your responses and effort to satisfy my wandering curiosity. My "fill in the blank box" will be Say it ain't so!
I just read that now Smith and Wesson is the new owner, who bought Taylor, who bought Schrade, who bought Imperial. So the fairy tale goes on, and we may never know the end.
Adventure BEFORE Dementia!
- orvet
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Re: Imperial Addition to the Family
First, welcome to AAPK!
I think your knife was probably made between 1983 and the mid-1990s. I'm not 100% sure on that it's just a guesstimation but I do have some knives from the same series. I'll post a picture when I find it, if I still have it. I believe these were made after Albert Baer bought the last of the outstanding shares of Imperial.
I believe that series was only ground on one side, they sort of had a chisel grind on the blades. I was looking at it on my phone so I can't tell whether yours has a chisel grind or not, but I know at least the big Stockman I had had a chisel grind on the master blade.
I think your knife was probably made between 1983 and the mid-1990s. I'm not 100% sure on that it's just a guesstimation but I do have some knives from the same series. I'll post a picture when I find it, if I still have it. I believe these were made after Albert Baer bought the last of the outstanding shares of Imperial.
I believe that series was only ground on one side, they sort of had a chisel grind on the blades. I was looking at it on my phone so I can't tell whether yours has a chisel grind or not, but I know at least the big Stockman I had had a chisel grind on the master blade.
Dale
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Please visit my AAPK store: www.allaboutpocketknives.com/orvet
Job 13:15
"Buy more ammo!" - Johnnie Fain
“Evil is Powerless If The Good are Unafraid.” – Ronald Reagan
- bighomer
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Re: Imperial Addition to the Family
This jack doesn't hardly have any grind at all, yet will slice paper.
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bladebuddy
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Re: Imperial Addition to the Family
Hey Tinroof, I have an Imperial like yours except for the shield. Mine says DE ( diamond edge).
I have to agree with Oldhunter that the knife is very similar to an Old timer 8OT.
I have to agree with Oldhunter that the knife is very similar to an Old timer 8OT.
Steve B.
Keep your edge sharp, otherwise you just can't cut it.
Looking for Carrier Cutlery and early Robeson with Elmira tang stamps.
Keep your edge sharp, otherwise you just can't cut it.
Looking for Carrier Cutlery and early Robeson with Elmira tang stamps.
- glennbad
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Re: Imperial Addition to the Family
I'd say anytime after 73...These have the DE shield, but the knife is the same otherwise.
https://www.collectors-of-schrades-r.us ... DE73-2.htm
https://www.collectors-of-schrades-r.us ... DE73-2.htm