IMPERIAL of Providence, RI. In 1947 Ulster, Schrade and the OLD Imperial merged to form a new company. Imperial made their first official Scout knives in 1949. In addition to the four blade, Imperial developed a five blade with a Phillips screwdriver and handles made of unique material. In 1963 a new Ulster USA was formed. In the 1960’s Imperial/Schrade made a small “pen” knife with a Schrade-Walden tang stamp.

4 Blade, black handle 1949 with shackle, metal shield 4 blade cracked ice/pearl handle 4 blade black plastic handle Plastic shield 2" screwdriver large can opener

4 blade, black plastic handle plastic shield 1 1/8" screwdriver smaller can opener. 4 blade imitation bone plastic handle "carved" shield, 1962 w shackle 5 blade, pearl/cracked ice handle no shackle smaller can opener.

Imperial knives after type 4 (about 19XX) have smaller screwdriver and can openers. Rather than make 3 or 4 and A & B it seems like an important development and I made them types.

Type 7 with and without shackle.    Never saw a shackle on a wood handle. Long 1 1/2" can opener.     short 1 1/4" can opener.       Long 2" screw driver.   Shorter 1 1/8" screw   driver.

5 blade rosewood handle medal shield 5 blade same as 7 & 8 brown plastic called simulated Mahogany 5 blade same as 7-9 plastic handle round logo 1973-74 catalog

6A. Black handle 6B. Brown handle 6C. White handle 6D. Red handle Released 1973-2004 Blacl was the first, Red was the last. 4 blade plastic handles, etched tenderfoot logo, removeable shackle

These knives appear to be cheaply made and perhaps the point was to reduce costs and make knives more affordable. A knife is a utilitarian product. One blade cuts, another punches, a can opener & screw driver will do just about anything a Scout needs a knife to do. These were made over a period of several years (black 1973-79) with other colors following.

The original "whitler" was made by Camillus in 1947.  Imperial got the contract for a short time in the 50's. (plastic shield) In later years Camillus would get the contract and made 3 blade whitlers for many years. Two blade, marked Schrade Walden, but the company was owned by Imperial. It’s curious that it’s not identified as an Imperial. 1950’s medal shield but introduced about 1962

2 Blade, marked Imperial on tang. NO shield or logo on the knife. If blade etching is worn away you wouldn’t know it was a BSA knife.

There are color shade variations in type 4. Lighter and darker.

With Imperial being such a major supplier of scout knives, I expected a modern 4 blade Scout knife to have been made by Imperial. But, it appears that Ulster had the contract for modern 4 blade Scout knives. Imperial made others.

Collecting Imperial Knives

Four Blade Official Scout folding pocket knives by Imperial

1.    4 blade, metal 1st shield, black handle, 3 3/4” long, permanent shackle, big screw driver & can opener. 2.    Same with pearl/cracked ice handle 3.    4 blade, plastic 1st Class shield, black plastic handle, 3 5/8” long, permanent shackle, large (2”) screw driver and larger, (1 1/2”) opener. 4.    Same as Type 3 Shorter (1 1/8") screw driver and ( 1 1/4") can opener. 5.    4 blade plastic 1st class shield, imitation bone plastic handle, 3 5/8" long, permanent shackle. 6.    4 blade embossed Tenderfoot logo, plastic handle, 3 5/8" long, permanent shackle.        11A. Black handle, 11B. Black handle, 11C. Brown handle 11D. Red handle sequence of issue      Five Blade official Scout folding pocket knives by Imperial 7.    5 blade, metal 1 shield, rosewood handle, 1 1/2" long, no shackle, smaller screwdriver & can opener. 8.    Same as 3 except with pearl/cracked ice handle 9.    5 blade, round modern logo, brown smooth bone plastic handles, 3 1/2" long, no shackle. 10.   5 blade modern round logo, brown imitation bone plastic handles, 3 1/2" long, no shackles.       Three Blade official Scout folding pocket knives by Imperial 11.    3 blade, whittler, plastic 1st class shield, black plastic handle, 3 1/2" long, no shackle       Two Blade official Scout folding pocket knives by Imperial 12.    2 blade, black plastic handle, 1940/50's style medal shield, Marked Schrade Walden. 2 3/4" long. 13.    2 blade, ivory (white) handle. No logo on the handel.  Imperial on Tang.  Etching on blade. Very small size 2 1/2" long.         Only identification is the etching on the blade.

This is a “generic” Imperial “scout” style pocket knife. It’s nearly identical to the official 4 blade except instead of an awl, it has a second blade.   I’ve commented on several occasion how interesting it is that licensed BSA suppliers were offering competing knives.