{"product_id":"imperial-fishermans-toothpick-pocket-knife-cracked-ice-celluloid-with-fish-shield-providence-rhode-island-c-1942-1955","title":"Imperial Fisherman's Toothpick Pocket Knife, Cracked Ice Celluloid with Fish Shield, Providence Rhode Island, c. 1942–1955","description":"\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal\" dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe Piece\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal\" dir=\"ltr\"\u003eA slim two-blade fishing knife in the toothpick pattern — long, narrow, and gently curved, with a spear-point main blade and a hook disgorger and scaler blade opening from the opposite end. The scales are cracked ice celluloid, a swirled cream and pearl imitation that catches light like the real thing, set between polished steel bolsters. Inset in the front scale is a small die-struck fish shield, scales and fins picked out in relief — the maker's signal that this knife had a job. The tang carries the Imperial mark and, on the reverse, the patent numbers \u003cem\u003e2170537\u003c\/em\u003e and \u003cem\u003e2281782\u003c\/em\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal\" dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eHistory \u0026amp; Provenance\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal\" dir=\"ltr\"\u003eImperial began with two brothers from Frosolone in the Italian Molise. Felix and Michael Mirando emigrated to Providence, Rhode Island in 1916 to be near its jewelry industry, where they began making skeletons for pocket-watch chain knives; with their friend Domenic Fazzano as manager they founded the Imperial Knife Company, which grew to become the largest knife manufacturer in the United States.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal\" dir=\"ltr\"\u003eTheir advantage was a method. Rather than milling solid frames, Imperial stamped handles from sheet and wrapped them — the construction protected by the two patents stamped on this blade, issued in 1939 and 1942. That let the company put a real working knife into a hardware store for the price of a sandwich, and it is why so many American men of the mid-century carried one. This particular pattern was made for a purpose: the second blade scales fish and frees a swallowed hook, and the fish shield told a buyer at a glance what the knife was for. It went in a tackle box, not a display case.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal\" dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eProduct Details\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv dir=\"ltr\" class=\"overflow-x-auto w-full pl-[var(--msg-block-inset,0.5rem)] pr-2 mb-6 print:overflow-x-visible\"\u003e\n\u003ctable class=\"min-w-full border-collapse text-sm leading-[1.7] whitespace-normal\"\u003e\n\u003cthead class=\"text-left\"\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth scope=\"col\" class=\"text-text-100 border-b-0.5 border-[hsl(var(--border-300)\/0.6)] py-2 pr-4 align-top font-bold\"\u003eField\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003cth scope=\"col\" class=\"text-text-100 border-b-0.5 border-[hsl(var(--border-300)\/0.6)] py-2 pr-4 align-top font-bold\"\u003eDetail\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/thead\u003e\n\u003ctbody\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd class=\"border-b-0.5 border-[hsl(var(--border-300)\/0.3)] py-2 pr-4 align-top\"\u003eObject\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd class=\"border-b-0.5 border-[hsl(var(--border-300)\/0.3)] py-2 pr-4 align-top\"\u003eTwo-blade folding fishing knife, toothpick pattern\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd class=\"border-b-0.5 border-[hsl(var(--border-300)\/0.3)] py-2 pr-4 align-top\"\u003eMaker\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd class=\"border-b-0.5 border-[hsl(var(--border-300)\/0.3)] py-2 pr-4 align-top\"\u003eImperial Knife Company, Providence, Rhode Island\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd class=\"border-b-0.5 border-[hsl(var(--border-300)\/0.3)] py-2 pr-4 align-top\"\u003eMarks\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd class=\"border-b-0.5 border-[hsl(var(--border-300)\/0.3)] py-2 pr-4 align-top\"\u003eImperial tang stamp; patents \u003cem\u003e2170537\u003c\/em\u003e and \u003cem\u003e2281782\u003c\/em\u003e to reverse tang\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd class=\"border-b-0.5 border-[hsl(var(--border-300)\/0.3)] py-2 pr-4 align-top\"\u003eBlades\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd class=\"border-b-0.5 border-[hsl(var(--border-300)\/0.3)] py-2 pr-4 align-top\"\u003eSpear-point main; hook disgorger and scaler secondary; carbon steel\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd class=\"border-b-0.5 border-[hsl(var(--border-300)\/0.3)] py-2 pr-4 align-top\"\u003eHandle\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd class=\"border-b-0.5 border-[hsl(var(--border-300)\/0.3)] py-2 pr-4 align-top\"\u003eCracked ice celluloid over shell construction; steel bolsters\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd class=\"border-b-0.5 border-[hsl(var(--border-300)\/0.3)] py-2 pr-4 align-top\"\u003eShield\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd class=\"border-b-0.5 border-[hsl(var(--border-300)\/0.3)] py-2 pr-4 align-top\"\u003eDie-struck fish, inset front scale\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd class=\"border-b-0.5 border-[hsl(var(--border-300)\/0.3)] py-2 pr-4 align-top\"\u003eEra\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd class=\"border-b-0.5 border-[hsl(var(--border-300)\/0.3)] py-2 pr-4 align-top\"\u003ec. 1942–1955\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd class=\"border-b-0.5 border-[hsl(var(--border-300)\/0.3)] py-2 pr-4 align-top\"\u003eDimensions\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd class=\"border-b-0.5 border-[hsl(var(--border-300)\/0.3)] py-2 pr-4 align-top\"\u003e[ pending — closed length ]\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd class=\"border-b-0.5 border-[hsl(var(--border-300)\/0.3)] py-2 pr-4 align-top\"\u003eCondition\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd class=\"border-b-0.5 border-[hsl(var(--border-300)\/0.3)] py-2 pr-4 align-top\"\u003eGood; both blades functional. See condition notes. Condition Guaranteed.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd class=\"border-b-0.5 border-[hsl(var(--border-300)\/0.3)] py-2 pr-4 align-top\"\u003eAvailability\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd class=\"border-b-0.5 border-[hsl(var(--border-300)\/0.3)] py-2 pr-4 align-top\"\u003eOne of a Kind — 1 Available\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/tbody\u003e\n\u003c\/table\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal\" dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWhy It Belongs in Your Home\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal\" dir=\"ltr\"\u003eThere is a particular pleasure in an object made for one job and shaped entirely by it. This knife scales a fish, frees a hook, and cuts a line, and every line of it — the narrow curve, the twin ends, the little fish on the handle — follows from that. It came out of a Providence factory built by two immigrant brothers and it went into a tackle box that smelled of cedar and old line. Small enough for a jacket pocket, handsome enough for a shelf, and cheap enough that you can simply enjoy owning it.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal\" dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCondition Notes\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal\" dir=\"ltr\"\u003eGrey patina and scattered dark pitting to both blades, consistent with carbon steel and use around water. Cracked ice celluloid scales sound with no cracks, shrinkage, or lifting; light yellowing and small surface marks consistent with age. Both blades open and close on a firm spring. Steel bolsters with light scratching. Sharpened during working life; not factory edge.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal\" dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCare note for the listing:\u003c\/strong\u003e store this knife loose and dry, not sealed in a bag or a box with other knives. Celluloid outgasses as it ages, and the vapor will corrode blades — including neighboring ones. Present scales are stable, but the material rewards air.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Viridian Eclection","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47910714900585,"sku":null,"price":119.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0651\/0093\/9369\/files\/E5E08AA2-B074-442C-832D-EB8F95ACEA5C.jpg?v=1786973195","url":"https:\/\/viridianeclection.com\/products\/imperial-fishermans-toothpick-pocket-knife-cracked-ice-celluloid-with-fish-shield-providence-rhode-island-c-1942-1955","provider":"Viridian Eclection","version":"1.0","type":"link"}