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Imperial Knives

My story about Imperial starts in 1946. I hung out at a grocery store with my brother in a little town called Fair Oaks, PA. I was a paper boy and the papers were dropped off at this store. There was an older guy that stopped there every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday to get a paper and a pack of Camels. The guy drove a black 1946 Chevy Coupe. A sweet car. We new the guy was either a ganster or else a secret agent. He dressed all in black, suit, shoes, shirt, tie, all black. Ond day while he was in the store, we snuck a peek in his car. "I knew it," Turk wispered. Look he heisted this car. He has a pen knife stuck in the ignition switch." Just then The anster came out. He yelled at to get away from his car. Then he laughed, "Oh you're looking at that knife ain't ya" "Ya, I said, you heist this car?" "No, the dealers give you that knife when you buy a new car. It has a key as one blade." He took out the knife and showed us.

I never saw another one untill I bought 1950 Chevy 2 dr. Fleetline in 2004. It was headed for the shredder. When I bought the car, I had to take a truck load of old car parts as well. In one of the many boxes was a small pen knife. It imediately brought back memories of the gangster. This knife had the key blank cut. I couldn't believe it. It fit all the doors and ignition of my new pile of junk.

Since then I have amassed about 60 of these knives, as well as a few other Key Knives refered to as Gentleman knives. And also a couple of what I call Tool Box Knives. These are posted here oniknife Collector. But I am not a collector of knives, only those that have a car key as a blade.

Pete Kelley .

3 members like this

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Rick Hooper on February 13, 2016 at 10:21

Great story, post some photos! I have keys with knife blades. We would like to see some!

Permalink Reply by pete kelley on February 13, 2016 at 10:39

Rick, I have some posted on my page. Here's a few. Image 1736 shows three. They are all Imperial. The one with 2 blades i believe is the knife Imperial used to make the Key Knives. The ones with Keys have the Curtis Industries logo. They made most of the key blanks. Any information about how and when these got started will be appreciated.

Pete

Attachments:

AmmonKnife.JPG, 112 KB
IMG_1735.JPG, 356 KB
IMG_1736.JPG, 366 KB

Permalink Reply by Clint Thompson on February 13, 2016 at 11:38

Nice story. Well told.

Permalink Reply by Tobias Gibson on February 13, 2016 at 15:10

Those are totally awesome. I've never seen one before! Everyday, it seems like there is something new to learn about when it comes to knives!

Permalink Reply by Ron Cooper on February 13, 2016 at 15:59

Wow! Your story just blew my socks off! First off because the very first car I owned as a teenager was a '49 Chevy. So, you set the hook with mention of a '50 Chevy. Then, second, you reeled me in with the discovery of a "Key Knife!" Up until three minutes ago I had never known such a knife even existed!

I guess me and Tobias have been living under a rock or something to have never known of these types of knives? So, yeah! Great story and now I know to keep my eyes peeled for another collectible in the cutlery realm. Thanks, Pete!

On another note...

That old Chevy 6 cylinder engine had to be the greatest engine ever made. That and the flathead in those early Fords. So a hearty congrats on the '50 Chevy!

Permalink Reply by pete kelley on February 17, 2016 at 12:46

I have been told that my story about Imperial Knives had an error in the start date so I corrected it. I guess trying to remember 70 years back is not so easy to do. A person who was at the scene 70 years ago. He is 4 years my senior. Should I believe him?

Pete

Permalink Reply by johnny twoshoes on February 17, 2016 at 16:03

Wow, that is amazing. Something you would never see in today's world!

I really appreciated this story Pete. I'd be interested in finding out how many of these GM Key knives there are, or if any other company did this?

Thanks again

Permalink Reply by pete kelley on February 17, 2016 at 16:36

Hey, johnny, Thanks for your post. It's my understanding that the General Motors used the same blank from 1933 to 1963. Although Chevy used the same blank they differered from the rest by having "KEY TO SERVICE" on theirs. Between 1932 and 1953 Ford used two different blanks The fit all the Ford Lincoln and Mercs. The blank used from 32 to 51 also fit the Studebaker Comm. from 40 to 53. I have several of the Chrysler Motors car knives but I haven't been able to date them yet.

I have about 60 total knives. The majority are GM. The trouble I have in my research is that seems as though not too many people know about them. From time to time I see them on EBay, but lately the price has been too much for me. One guy has a buy it now price of $500. Most of the guys that I know that collect don't want to talk to me because Imperial is just a cheap knife and not a collectable.

Italked to the guy who was with my brother and I when we first saw the key knife. He corrected me on the car in question and the year. The "ganster" guy originally had a 1937 Chevy. When the war started he was drafted and didn't come back until late 1945. When he did he bought a new 1946 chevy just like his 37. The 46 is the car that we saw, and saw the knife.

Looking at the tangs of my knives, I think that Imperial started these knives in 1946. They made one of thase Tool Kit knives in 46 and used the same connecting means on the key knives. Curtis industries made most of the key machines and key cutting machines. In my collection there are three types of blanks. So I suspect that there were three different companies involved.

Except for the car guys at the car cruises, you folks at iknife are the only ones to show any interest. In all the knife catalogs that I seen I've never seen a key knife or any indication that there are such things. But I'm done collecting them. I just show them.

I guess I didn't answer your question, but that's all I know.

Pete

Permalink Reply by pete kelley on February 18, 2016 at 10:33

Hey, Jan, I now believe that Imperial started these Key knives with the group c1946-1956. Inthat group are the two posts that I have. photos"Tool Box Knife,Tool Box Knife II , and Ford motor key blank. If you look at the tang end of the attacments of the tool Box Knife you can see the simalarity between it and the same end of the key blank. They both hook on to the pin. I don't know which came first, but I think that's how the Key Knivs got started. Maybe your friend William can help or verify.

Pete

FeaturedPermalink Reply by Jeremy B. Buchanan on August 26, 2016 at 17:07

What an awesome story Pete. I have never seen a knife like that. If I ever do, I will be certain to inquire about it and attempt to add it to my collection. I love unique knives like these.

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