Old Imperial multi tool

IMR4198 · **on:** August 21, 2023, 05:02:03 PM

This was given to me when I was a boy. My uncle ran a tire shop across the street from the Jeep dealership. The plastic wallet is marked Jeep. Obviously a promotional knife.
I thought it was quite a useful thing back then. Imperial, Providence, R.I. The mostly useless extra tools hook into the end of the knife away from the blade. It is a very lightweight knife of 'shell construction' where the bolsters and scales are crimped onto the actual liners. I must have been better at sharpening knives at a young age than I thought. The blade is fairly sharp.
I actually carried this thing fishing. It was a terrible pants puller downer. Needs a clean up. I hadn't picked it up in ages. Best wishes. Gary

imp.jpg (Filesize: 124.84 KB)

old Lefty · **Reply #1 on:** August 21, 2023, 05:57:05 PM

What a cool tool!

Lähetetty minun SM-T515 laitteesta Tapatalkilla

Echotech · **Reply #2 on:** August 22, 2023, 05:38:01 AM

Farmer X · **Reply #3 on:** August 23, 2023, 06:47:43 AM

Those old Imperials were great. Looks like your set is complete, too. What a wonderful piece to have!

IMR4198 · **Reply #4 on:** August 23, 2023, 12:39:44 PM

You can tell how little care it gets. I always thought of Colonial, Imperial, Jackmaster, or Kamp Kings as dollar knives. Does anybody remember the colorful cardboard displays of these things that hung on the walls or sat on the shelf generally around the cash registers of gas stations, etc. ? Take your pick. One dollar. Some grown men carried them to cut their tobacco chews with, but mostly I think they were fodder for the kids. Many a sling shot or fish stringer has been fashioned with a little dollar Barlow. You could be a hero with your Kamp King when you were the only one who could open the Beanie-Weenies in the days before the pop top. Best wishes. Gary

SteveC · **Reply #5 on:** August 23, 2023, 03:59:35 PM

Imperial always used great steel for their blades. Even although they were budget shell construction they took a great edge.

Barry Rowland · **Reply #6 on:** August 28, 2023, 06:13:28 PM

and that is COOL Garry!!

PitCarver · **Reply #7 on:** August 28, 2023, 07:11:19 PM

Quote from: IMR4198 on August 23, 2023, 12:39:44 PM

Does anybody remember the colorful cardboard displays of these things that hung on the walls or sat on the shelf generally around the cash registers of gas stations, etc. ?

Good gosh yes.
When I was a kid, those were the only knives that I knew existed.
Loved my old Barlow that my dad bought me once. Back then, I only thought that there were only a few kinds of knives...
Barlow's, stockman's and a Buck knife (which, to me was ANY large lockback knife.)

Ahhh, the ignorance of youth.

IMR4198 · **Reply #8 on:** August 30, 2023, 03:44:47 PM

I thought the same way, Pit. Last time I walked down the road I saw the big, tall yellow-flowered plants blooming which brought back old boyhood memories. It is Verbecena, but we called it 'stickweed'. When it dries out it makes the perfect kite. Also it was used for rowdy bouts of sword fighting, and non-lethal arrows during carefree days of youthful fun and make-believe. Some stickweed, paste, a newspaper, some string, and a Barlow were all you needed for a day's aeronautical trials. Best wishes. Gary

DIAMOND · **Reply #9 on:** August 30, 2023, 06:09:49 PM

How did I just see this thread?

I love stuff like this! It's fun to pull out things that you haven't seen for awhile.

King_Gorilla · **Reply #10 on:** November 07, 2023, 04:00:34 AM

enki_ck · **Reply #11 on:** November 07, 2023, 05:34:36 PM

I always had a soft spot for those sets.

We had a dedicated thread for those a while back. Regretfully Osos is no longer active and his page seems to be down, but still loads of variations shown there.

https://forum.multitool.org/index.php/topic,49824.0.html