The Rooster Posted December 20, 2021 Share #1 Posted December 20, 2021 I just got this one. Stainless 1961 Imperial. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Collector2 Posted December 21, 2021 Share #2 Posted December 21, 2021 Nice first year Imperial Stainless, any idea what year they stopped stamping the crown above Imperial. I have seen it on those made to around 1968 but not on the 1974 and after knives. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Rooster Posted December 26, 2021 Author Share #3 Posted December 26, 2021 "Any idea what year they stopped stamping the crown above Imperial." I dont know. Im new to these knives. Funny thing about this one is that other than some old grease, the thing is like brand new. It hard to get the tools out. Its really tight. Surprised me cause its 60 years old. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
e19 Posted December 26, 2021 Share #4 Posted December 26, 2021 Now you need to find one of these! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
e19 Posted December 26, 2021 Share #5 Posted December 26, 2021 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sactroop Posted December 29, 2021 Share #6 Posted December 29, 2021 On 12/26/2021 at 7:35 AM, The Rooster said: "Any idea what year they stopped stamping the crown above Imperial." I dont know. Im new to these knives. Funny thing about this one is that other than some old grease, the thing is like brand new. It hard to get the tools out. Its really tight. Surprised me cause its 60 years old. I don't know about the crown stamp either. Rooster, the 61 Imperial I have is just like your's, bright and shiny, and a real finger nail breaker. Someone must of opened up a new old batch just for us.😀 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Rooster Posted December 30, 2021 Author Share #7 Posted December 30, 2021 lol. I know what you mean ! I have to muscle out everything and then the awl is last. Its tight ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
2AD_Vet Posted February 4, 2022 Share #8 Posted February 4, 2022 On 12/20/2021 at 7:51 PM, Collector2 said: Nice first year Imperial Stainless, any idea what year they stopped stamping the crown above Imperial. I have seen it on those made to around 1968 but not on the 1974 and after knives. My 1976 has the crown Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Collector2 Posted February 5, 2022 Share #9 Posted February 5, 2022 A couple of Imperial 1974 blades that do not appear to have any sign of the crown on them. both knives look in pretty good nick with untouched blades. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Collector2 Posted February 5, 2022 Share #10 Posted February 5, 2022 After seeing these two photo's I posted earlier in large size on the screen and looking at IMPERIAL, I quickly realized that IMPERIAL is all upper case. The earlier Imperials above and my 1966 all have capital I only in Imperial. This probably is the reason that these two and others similar do not have the crown stamped above Imperial. Are there Chinese copies of these US stamped IMPERIAL Knives; or anything else we should know about them. I was all but ready to press the button and add one of these two 1974 IMPERIALS to my small collection but think I will pass for now. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sactroop Posted February 5, 2022 Share #11 Posted February 5, 2022 It's possible that some Imperial marked knives could have been made in different factories, including some that were outside the U.S. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
2AD_Vet Posted February 5, 2022 Share #12 Posted February 5, 2022 On 12/26/2021 at 11:13 AM, e19 said: Is there an "official" USGI knife carry case for these knives or is it just a "find something that fits" type of thing? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
2AD_Vet Posted February 5, 2022 Share #13 Posted February 5, 2022 Thought this was an interesting read..... Mil_Specs for the 818D...... MIL-K-818D.pdf Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Misfit 45 Posted February 5, 2022 Share #14 Posted February 5, 2022 8 minutes ago, 2AD_Vet said: Thought this was an interesting read..... Mil_Specs for the 818D...... MIL-K-818D.pdf 804.82 kB · 1 download That is great information! Marv Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dustin Posted February 5, 2022 Share #15 Posted February 5, 2022 The knife collecting community, over the years, have compiled various tang or ricasso stamp timelines often prefixed with "circa". which in other words means round-about. The Imperial with crown which appears to dot the "i" was used from 1946-1988. Why some of these MILK knives are void of the crown, who knows, but I believe in most all commercial manufactured folding knives by Imperial in the Post WWII era will have the crown. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
e19 Posted February 5, 2022 Share #16 Posted February 5, 2022 1 hour ago, 2AD_Vet said: Is there an "official" USGI knife carry case for these knives or is it just a "find something that fits" type of thing? Mine was made by my unit’s parachute riggers. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Rooster Posted February 5, 2022 Author Share #17 Posted February 5, 2022 8 minutes ago, e19 said: Mine was made by my unit’s parachute riggers. Someone was selling a knife with a similar sheath a couple weeks ago on ebay. Pretty cool ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SKIPH Posted February 5, 2022 Share #18 Posted February 5, 2022 These sheaths are very common in the Ft Bragg area. Seems as though everyone has an MIL-K, JPK, or a MK2 knife. The sheaths are either rigger made or commercial. I have two, one rigger, and a camouflaged commercial with pen holder, and velcro cover. The MIL-Ks are an Imperial dated 1966 w/ pin on the screw driver, the other is a Camillus dated 1977, which I found out in the woods of Camp Mackall in 1977. Note the handle is more shallow, and less pronounced than the earlier Imperial. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now