Vtg Imperial Trick “mystery Knife” Single Blade Unusual Lock Mechanism 1930’s For Sale

Get yourself an unusual “Trick” “Mystery” knife for your pocket knife collection! It took me a bit to figure out what exactly this knife is and how to open/close it. As you can see from the photos, there is not a nail pull on the blade. It has a hook on the tang end of the blade which when properly pressed and tilted will come in contact with a little rolling pin that will lock the blade or release the blade. Quite ingenious really once you figure it out. Made by Imperial Knife Co., Inc. in/around the mid 1930’s.

The cover/casing is the cracked ice pattern. Two Patents related to the Knife handle casing installation method were filed and granted from 1935-39 by O.E. Stiehl and Jr. Ernst Lohr/Imperial. Patent #’s 2.037.943 and 2.170.537

It is in very good shape for its age. There is a small piece of casing that is missing on one side of handle.