All About Pocket Knives

I did spend a little time looking up the companies on the knives in that sales kit when I first got my hands on it but couldn't pin it down any better than 70s/80s.

bladecollectorr wrote: ↑Tue Dec 10, 2019 10:32 pmThe 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.

That is some excellent sleuthing! 80s it is.


This next knife has been posted here on AAPK...more than once - but to me it really demonstrates how wonderfully weird they were up in Providence. It's a Hammer Brand Kamp King without a shield and the standard can opener was swapped out for a slick fold-out P38. It's a one-off from deep within the sample room trove and honestly, how could they possibly sell this thing - but OMG I'm in love with it. .
I've carried the knife plenty and used the can opener a bunch and if it works just fine.

That's so cool.
Wish I still had my P-38. Long gone.

Here's a couple Imperials.

Here's a nice little pen with sunken joints. I have two of these.

FRJ wrote: ↑Wed Dec 11, 2019 4:05 am Here's a couple Imperials.

Those zebra stripes are unique - never seen one like that before. I like them.


Here's a Frontier stockman still sealed in the clampack. Interesting choice on shield placement...

FRJ wrote: ↑Wed Dec 11, 2019 4:05 am Here's a couple Imperials.

Wicked cool bro!!!

Got this Fillet knife and Scout Set

Thank you, Jason and Scott.

Here's a large Trapper.

Here's three little dogleg jacks.

Love that cell!

Thanks Cal.

One good turn deserves another.

Here is one that I always thought slightly odd. Linerlock. Came in the little bag. So cute.

Cal, those little jack knives are really nice.
Those are a very likable knife.

Love the spear on that hunter.

Well Cal.... you reminded me of another Imperial I have.....

My folding hunter....
Sorry for the bad picture.....

Oh well....

tongueriver wrote: ↑Thu Dec 12, 2019 2:19 am Here is one that I always thought slightly odd. Linerlock. Came in the little bag. So cute.

I've never seen one of those bags before - I like it . It helps date it too - the street was changed to Imperial Place in 1953 after Felix Mirando petitioned the city, arguing the other kids were making fun of him for having a knife company on Blount Street.

I got this Imperial souvenir knife just today. It's from the 1939 World's Fair. I grew up a few miles from Flushing Meadows Park where the 1939 and 1964 World's Fairs were. If anyone knows what the third blade is for I'd be glad to learn! Tiny oyster shucker? Weird manicure tool? It's not sharp.

Here's an Imperial from the '64 Fair.

A theory on that odd blade: When it is the only blade open, one could hook one's index finger around the indent for purchase, and then draw the dull blade around the lead foil on the neck of a wine bottle to help access to the cork? Nah... probably not. No corkscrew.

Maybe it's an ink eraser?

tongueriver wrote: ↑Sat Dec 14, 2019 1:21 am A theory on that odd blade: When it is the only blade open, one could hook one's index finger around the indent for purchase, and then draw the dull blade around the lead foil on the neck of a wine bottle to help access to the cork? Nah... probably not. No corkscrew.

It could certainly do the job but as you pointed out, no corkscrew. I think this one has as much of a chance at being correct as my mini oyster shucker theory.

bladecollectorr wrote: ↑Sat Dec 14, 2019 5:22 amMaybe it's an ink eraser?

Like the spey on an office knife. Someone once explained that was an ink eraser. I'm not old enough to remember a time without white-out so I had never heard of such a thing before.


The more I naval gaze over this the more I think it's probably a manicure tool. I have come to realize that Imperial was fast and loose with that term. Case in point - this is a cool little gentleman's knife that I picked up because I was fascinated with the built-in lighter. By the way, it's another example of post war Imperial buying parts (the lighter) from Japan.
There's a tool on there that I couldn't figure out what it was for: The leading theories among some knife friends were screwdriver, coke spoon or ear spoon - look up ear spoon, it's a little gross. I had no idea until I found it in a catalog and saw that it was a manicure tool.

Did someone say "ear spoon"? I had to ask too.

https://www.bladeforums.com/threads/for ... f.1659896/

bladecollectorr wrote: ↑Sat Dec 14, 2019 11:25 pmI had to ask too.

You came up with the same guess for what it was

I have an update on the spear shaped tool on the World's Fair knife I posted earlier. Turns out it's actually a can opener! Mike Little told me it was and explained how it works, and now I can testify that it's just a terrible design. I'm sure they changed it after a few customers complained about severed digits. Here's how it worked out for me: To pierce the can you hold the knife vertical with the point on the lid. With your other hand you smack the top of the knife straight down and after a few awkward slaps I mastered the motion. Then you ratchet the blade upward going counter clockwise and the cutout can go over the edge of the can but the lip gets in the way. During the course of trying to figure this out I also came up with a listing from the 1937 Imperial Catalog (COSRUS) that shows the knife with the tool and labels it a can opener.

Very nice, interesting knives everyone.
Jason, how long did it take to open that can of potatoes?
Here are a couple of my Imperials. A single blade jack knife with a GM key blank and a BARLOW.