Posted 6 years ago
ChaseHunte…
(1 item)
I received this knife as something passed down auto me from my in laws after cleaning out the house of their recently passed away grandmothers house and it belonged to my girlfriends late grandfather who passed away 22 years ago. I think it’s very neat and the switch blade works pretty good for how old I’m assuming it is. My question is if anyone recognizes the symbol or knife and can tell me who it’s made by so I can look up more about it. Also if you have links to good videos or instructional s about how to properly restore a knife like this, thatd be great.
Looks like the switchblades sold in the 50's.
Switchblades are illegal to possess in some states. If American made, probably made before 1955.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Switchblade
I agree with the others about being circa 50's. Can't see the symbol good enough to hazard a guess about the manufacturer. It depends on where you live about the legality of carrying it, but if it's at home and a collectable it might be all right. Check out the US Knife Laws Knife Up website or others to get the skinny on legality.
Hammer knife Co. the numbers should give you info on the age. Just research it.
Thank you everyone for the speedy input it is in fact a Hammer Company knife and I’m enjoying looking up the history of it, next is learning how to restore it, thank you again.
The mark is a flexed arm with a hammer and the words "Hammer Brand." It is a trademark of the Imperial knife Co. Imperial made an extensive line of knives using the construction method of your knife - a thin sheet of plastic wrapped around hollow metal shells and crimped onto an assembly of the actual working parts of the knife (Lohr & Stiel patent - Germany ca. 1928). They are still in business as far as I know.
Every state and every burg has it's own anti-switchblade laws passes around 1957 in a knee-jerk reaction to the Federal rule banning switchblades in inter-state commerce. Over the years these laws have eased up quite a bit and are being repealed in many states. The Federal statute is still in effect but does not address ownership or carry.