Imperial Schrade IMP25 Imperial Sowbelly Pocket Knife

Bought this to replace another Imperial knife that got lost. That one was a 4 blade congress and a nice knife, but not nearly as nice as this one. This knife arrived Sharp and Smooth opening and very nicely finished out of the box. I've owned a several pocket knifes over the years, some of them pretty expensive. This is amazing for the price. I like the Sowbelly shape, it seams to fit nicely in my pocket. It is also just the right size for me about 3.75" closed. I have become a fan of these Imperial knifes lately they seem to be the perfect balance. for me. Inexpensive enough I actually use them ( It hurts to scratch the blade on a 60 dollar case knife). This one has an old school look to it is actually a little more yellow than the picture on Amazon. I will post a picture on white paper so you can see it. also i will used a closed picture. I don't know why they never show the knifes closed. In any case, highly recommended. a beautiful, well finished knife of surprising quality.

Cheap price, cheap knife. Worth it if thats what u r lookin for.

Very nice. I really like this knife. Just what I wanted.

Basic Knife Functions: The blades open and close with some snap, so the springs work. The blades become difficult to open when a little dust or dirt gets into the joints, so it will need maintenance to keep operating as intended. The blades do cut things. I've opened packages, cut apples, peeled oranges, etc.Fit and Finish: This is where this knife falls down. The handle edges and the blade edges are squared off and sharp. The decorative cuts on the bolsters are uneven and incomplete. The handle scales show gaps on the ends to where you can see daylight between the scales and the liners. Those square edges make it less-than-comfortable to use. The shield is kind of parallel to the knife on one end, but looks crooked unless the knife is sitting at a certain angle. The blades, backsprings and liners are left with a rough finish. Brushed, kind of. But not in a good way. There are some gaps between the springs and the liners, and if you give the knife a squeeze, you can see it flex.Sharpness: It cuts. It's not particularly sharp. It does lose it's edge rather quickly compared to some of my other pocket knives. I touched up the edges using water stones and they did sharpen up better, but the edge continues to dull quicker than expected.Compared to a Case Sowbelly Knife: The Case is 4~5 times the price, but you are getting a much nicer knife. The Case is polished inside and out, the edges are rounded, the steel is much nicer looking, the handle scales are perfectly fitted, etc. There is just no comparison other than they both have 3 blades and they are both a knife.Overall: You are not buying a nice, collectible knife. You are buying a knife that cuts and you don't mind if you lose it or break it. It's not a knife that I would depend upon. You can definitely spend a little more and get a knife that isn't much better in quality, but you can spend a lot more and get a knife that's ten times the quality. Honestly, that's what I would do (and have done). I bought my Case Sowbelly and have set this one aside to give away to someone else. Someone who just wants something that will cut and won't care if they lose it.

This knife has caught me by surprise. I did not think the quality would be there for this price point. I dont like buying Chinese but come on. I collect Case and Hens and Rooster German made. The USA can't do anything like this for the money. Buy this knife it is so worth it. If you can spend the extra money buy case.

For the money this knife can't be beat and truthfully I get more satisfaction out of these cheapies than I do more expensive knives.

Well made knife, great price, love the stainless steel bolsters, I live in Florida and with the humidity the nickel silver bolsters tarnish and look bad very quickly, this knife looks great all the time.

Nice knife