Vintage (made between 1946 and 1956 see chart below) Imperial PROV U.S.A. cracked ice 2 blade folding Jack Knife advertising The PREMIER AUTOWARE Company in Cleveland, Oh and Los Angeles, Ca.
Serial number #'s on small blade: 2170537 2281782
Imperial Prov USA pocket knife tang dating code:
http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php/554106-Imperial-Tang-Stamp-Chart
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Hammer Brand 2 blade pocket knife made between 1938 – 1941 (according to the link tang dating code link above)
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Hammer Brand USA 2 blade pocket knife.
By viewing the tang stamp with a magnifying lens I was able to determine that this knife was from the 1945 – 1955 production time frame.
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An Imperial jack knife from 1956 – 1988
Patent numbers: 2284833, 2689400, 2479855
Oil your knives with Quick Release Oil! Watch my video to see how it puts the "snap" back! click here
The History of the Colonial Knife Company, by Robert Paolantonio
EARLY IMPERIAL KNIFES WERE THE AFFORDABLE NOT THE HIGHEST QUALITY BRAND ON THE MARKET AT THAT TIME,ALTHOUGH KNIFES IN GOOD CONDITION ARE STILL COLLECTIBLE.
i have a 3-1/2" single blade switchblade
imperial brand #s 228178
210753
Does anyone know the value ? The 3-1/2"s i open
Might check ebay or google “sell switchblades” and you should find some info!!
I have an Imperial pocket with two serial#s 2170537 and 2284833 According to your chart these numbers are from two completely different year models. What have I got?
I figured it out. Mine was made between 56 and 88. It looks it was made closer to 56.