IMPERIAL QUESTION

[cattaraugus57]

Ok,everyone knows the cheaply made shell type knives Imperial made and also the great quality non shell type they made as well.
my Question is,when did Imperial stop making the great quality knives?

[chetr1200c]

i always wondered if imperial was still in business. they aquired a lot of companies when they formed the imperial knife association co.
but did they go under when schade folded? imperial made some high quaility and inexpensive knives over their long history....too many to say when they actually stopped making quality knives.. at least i haven't a clue

[FRJ]

Two examples.

[cattaraugus57]

I don't know Chet..
At one time Imperial was the largest cutlery co in the world.

Nice examples FJR..most of mine are packed cause I'm moving.
but here's 2 of the non shell type.

[philco]

When Schrade folded, it was actually the entire Imperial Schrade Corporation that went belly up. When Taylor bought Schrade they also bought the rights to use all the brands under the Imperial Schrade Corp. umbrella. That included Imperial, Hammer Brand, Schrade, Uncle Henry, and others. All those brands are now being manufactured in China.

Phil

[cattaraugus57]

yep..you are correct philco,damn shame too.
freakin china!

[chetr1200c]

that is a shame. i took a bike ride to ellenville a few summers back to visit the schrade factory. when i got there, they were undergoing a big renovation. the store was still open,{ wish i bought something then},,,,figured i would be back since they weren't giving any tours at that time.....well, as fate would have it, 2 months later, they folded

i worked for a flatbed trailer manufacturer once who invested over 1 million bucks in renovations, only to close as soon as the work was done. everyone was thinking of good job security at the time work was underway.....

guess the books needed some adjusting before bankruptcy was claimed

[cattaraugus57]

that sucks Chet...
Glad I went up to see the Catt factory this summer cause it won't be there
forever..
Wanted to get up to Utica as well and they're still in Business!..

no such thing as job security any more and it's very sacrey!
here today..gone tomorrow should be this countrys moto..