Colonial knife company?

Colonial Knife was incorporated in 1926 by three brothers; Antonio, Domenic, & Fredrick Paolantonio. It grew to become one of the largest pocket knife manufacturers in the US during the 1960s. The company shut down in 1998, but was back into production under the Colonial Cutlery International Corporation in 2001. Colonial Cutlery International, Inc. brand is the imported line of knives and tools while the U.S.A.- made products fall under the Colonial Knife brand.
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Old Hunter
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Re: Colonial knife company?

Post by Old Hunter »

Can't get much fresher than sealed in the original package - nice pickup Scott.
Deep in the guts of most men is buried the involuntary response to the hunter's horn, a prickle of the nape hairs, an acceleration of the pulse, an atavistic memory of his fathers, who killed first with stone, and then with club...Robert Ruark
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Re: Colonial knife company?

Post by TripleF »

Thanks Bruce!

Used this late 90's Colonial Knife catalog as a prop that shows the actual knife!
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Colonial Ranger 912 Peanut USA Jack Knife  (1).JPG
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Re: Colonial knife company?

Post by garddogg56 »

Scott is that like a peanut? I love the Colonials they are quite like the Imperials.Heres a few of mine.
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Re: Colonial knife company?

Post by TripleF »

Yes sir Bob, it's under 3" so it's qualified as a peanut!!
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Re: Colonial knife company?

Post by garddogg56 »

Thanx Scott to bad the new Colonial couldn't bring back some of the old patterns I think they could thrive ::nod::
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Re: Colonial knife company?

Post by Old Hunter »

I was doing an e-bay search one day last week, just looking at anything labeled Colonial in the knife & collectibles sections and a bunch of these Colonial trucker-novelty knives popped up. There was a Coca-Cola version for about $89.00 and a few for $24.00 dollars (+/-) and then this one for $7.50 shipped. I thought what the heck, just for fun I wanted it, and the blade configuration is a favorite - so here it is. These must have been quite popular at one for so many to be listed now at a given time. It is a USA made Colonial, sitting on my reloading shelf now.

Ps The clip blade must have been designed for a guy who opened too many beers with the bottle opener, so he wouldn't cut himself - you would be hard pressed to slice butter with the edge.
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DSC04459.JPG
Deep in the guts of most men is buried the involuntary response to the hunter's horn, a prickle of the nape hairs, an acceleration of the pulse, an atavistic memory of his fathers, who killed first with stone, and then with club...Robert Ruark
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Re: Colonial knife company?

Post by 313 Mike »

Cool little knife Old Hunter! I've bid on a few of those in the past but they always went higher than I wanted, you got a good score with that one. Nice conservation piece, and even better, it's got a clever little Peterbilt ad on it! That reminds me of this other Peterbilt knife I picked up a while back, it's only marked USA, but I'm pretty sure it's a Colonial. (Same thing with the Shake n' Bake)
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Peterbilt & Shake n Bake 002.jpg
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Re: Colonial knife company?

Post by edgy46 »

Found this Old Cutler barlow soon after reading this post. Thanks Scott. ::handshake::
Without the information that Scott posted I would have passed on this well built and well finished knife. It will be fine addition to my barlow collection.
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old cutler 002.jpg
old cutler 001.jpg
An uncontrolled accumulator. ::shrug::
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Re: Colonial knife company?

Post by TripleF »

You're welcome Bill ::handshake::

Knice knife!!
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Re: Colonial knife company?

Post by Old Hunter »

Bill, those Old Cutlers are diamonds in the rough - you would never guess that they are the equal of an Old Timer until you start using/carrying one.

Mike, pretty neat and colorful advertising knives. There is a country store not far from me that has a card that is 90% full of the same knife as your Peterbilt knife, after looking them over good I am sure they are Colonials. I would buy them but they are "UNC Tarheels" marked knives - just couldn't let them have space under my ECU Pirates roof!

Scott, the packaged knife, taken on the old catalog, sure looks more interesting than a picture of the same knife taken without a good background doesn't it?
Deep in the guts of most men is buried the involuntary response to the hunter's horn, a prickle of the nape hairs, an acceleration of the pulse, an atavistic memory of his fathers, who killed first with stone, and then with club...Robert Ruark
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Re: Colonial knife company?

Post by TripleF »

Yes it does Bruce! I love your backdrop and knife! Knice score BTW ::tu::
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Re: Colonial knife company?

Post by ironmage »

snorkel wrote:Anyone know anything about the Colonial Knife Company:
http://www.colonialknifecompany.net/

The have a lockback that looks exactly like a schrade LB7 and apparently it's made in the US.

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That Sr is because it prob was a schrade.“THE KNIVES THAT HELP BUILD AMERICA” SINCE 1926

Colonial Cutlery Int., Inc.
61A Dewey Avenue
Warwick, RI 02886

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knives@colonialknifecorp.com


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History of Colonial Cutlery International, Inc.

Colonial Knife was incorporated in 1926 by the Paolantonio brothers; Antonio, Domenic, Fredrick . Prior to the three brothers forming Colonial Knife, they each worked in other occupations which would hone their skills as manufactures and businessmen.

Antonio: upon returning from the First World War where he served as black smith with the U.S. Cavalry he started the A. Paolantonio Cutlery Company where he began making knives for the jewelry industry.

Domenic: worked for the Empire Knife Company, Meridian CT, as a foreman

Fredrick: worked for the Imperial Knife Company, Providence, Rhode Island as a department head.

The brothers proved they had the skills needed to achieve success. Antonio handling the sales, Domenic the finances and Frederick the manufacturing process.

The 20’s and 30’s would prove to be difficult times but with hard work and determination the brothers would overcome all obstacles.

When the Second World War broke out, Colonial Knife was engaged in the production of the famous Mark 1 Navy Deck Knife and the Navy Pilot Survival Knife along with a variety of military jack knives. During the, war Antonio served on the war production board in Washington D.C where he oversaw the allocation of steel to the cutlery industry.

During the next 70 years Colonial Knife grew adding new products. The 1950’s inspired such brand names as the Sure Snap (auto knife) along with the Cub Hunter and Rin Tin Tin series and other well know styles of knives that would earn the Colonial brand a reputation as “a boy’s first knife”.

The 1970’s saw the introduction of a number of better quality brands for Colonial such as the Ranger series, Master Brand, Swiss Master, and Old Cutler series. Each of these new series helped to increase demand for the Colonial brand throughout the United States.

The 1980’s and 90’s brought a new type of business to Colonial, the “private label” customer. These include Smith & Wesson, Colt, Winchester, John Russell Barlow and the riders of the silver screen with such names as Tom Mix, Roy Rogers, Hop along Cassidy, Daniel Boone, Elvis Presley, commemorative knives and Ultra Blade series and the Sharp brand (K-mart).

In 2001, some of the employees of the former Colonial Knife started Colonial Cutlery international (CCI) and began manufacturing the
M-724 auto knives and the J-316 for the military. This new interest in the Colonial brand led to additional customers such as the
Boy Scout of America, Girl Scouts of the U.S.A, Cooper Tools, Stanley Works, Ideal Industries, and the General Service Administration (G.S.A.) in 2002 CCI registered the Colonial Knife brand as a division of Colonial Cutlery International, Inc. Today (2010) Colonial Cutlery International, Inc. brand is the imported line of knives and tools while the U.S.A.- made products fall under the Colonial Knife brand.
Together, two great brands under one roof.


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Re: Colonial knife company?

Post by 313 Mike »

Newly acquired Colonial, love the blade on this one! Long nail pull, nice swedge, blade extends up high enough when closed that it is almost like an easy opener. Plus the hadles are pinned, as are the bolsters which is a great score for a Colonial! Close size is 4 1/4 ", very similar to a slim trapper in style, but with a bigger, badder blade. Really liking this one.
Mike
Colonial slim trapper 004.jpg
Colonial slim trapper 001.jpg
Colonial slim trapper 001.jpg
Colonial slim trapper 003.jpg
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Re: Colonial knife company?

Post by Old Hunter »

Looks like you did very well on your Colonial Mike - they really were great knives for the money.
Deep in the guts of most men is buried the involuntary response to the hunter's horn, a prickle of the nape hairs, an acceleration of the pulse, an atavistic memory of his fathers, who killed first with stone, and then with club...Robert Ruark
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Re: Colonial knife company?

Post by 313 Mike »

Thanks OH, it was the blade on this one that was calling out to me...I was pleasantly surprised when it arrived at how solid the handle, and the walk and talk is. Seems like it is a "cut above" normal Colonial quality from that time frame. Many of my Colonials have shell handles that are loose, or coming loose, but surely not this one.
\Mike
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Re: Colonial knife company?

Post by TripleF »

Colonial Camper's Combination Hobo Knife....just came in today!
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Colonial Hobo Camper's Combination #2644 Knife (1).JPG
Colonial Hobo Camper's Combination #2644 Knife (2).JPG
SCOTT
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Colonial Knife Company History ebook:
https://gumroad.com/l/ZLDb
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Re: Colonial knife company?

Post by Joe Dirt »

Well, I told myself "NO MORE BLISTER PACKS" over a year ago after posting "the accumulation"
near the beginning of this thread.

So here's the latest...
A $9.99 special and only $3 shipping - stumbled upon it with 20 minutes left in a 7 day auction and NO bids!
An Anvil Brand 310 stockman with the wrong stamp.
It is stamped SHARPTM USA 380.

I asked Robert Paolantonio about it and he said the SHARP USA stamp belonged to Colonial
and was a "secondary stamp." He also gave an approximate date of "late 70's to early 80's."

Man, I hope this blister pack thing dosn't start over again ::facepalm:: ... as I type this - awaiting another
Imperial pack to arrive....

.... Joe
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Anvil 310 blis pak - ''SHARP USA 380'' stamp (front).JPG
Anvil 310 blis pak - ''SHARP USA 380'' stamp (back).JPG
''HONED EDGE'' etch.JPG
Anvil 310 blis pak - ''SHARP USA 380'' stamp 004.JPG
I've got a camouflage knife, but I can't find it.......

..... cardboard addicted.....

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Re: Colonial knife company?

Post by 313 Mike »

Great find Joe! Very cool packaging as well. I don't know how you resist the temptation of ripping all those blister packs open, man I'd wanna get at that sucker!
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Re: Colonial knife company?

Post by Joe Dirt »

::rotflol:: dang near impossible, Mike... I buy one "out of the pack" to help with the temptation!
You don't need to keep these out of reach of children. It's the adults ya gotta worry about. ::nod::

....... Joe
I've got a camouflage knife, but I can't find it.......

..... cardboard addicted.....

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Re: Colonial knife company?

Post by TripleF »

And to think Joe, there's no medication for the sickness you have. (or should I say, WE ALL HAVE). ::rotflol:: ::rotflol::
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Re: Colonial knife company?

Post by 313 Mike »

Here's a tiny little Colonial I recently received...anyone have any idea what years Colonial made these..? I've seen a few similar ones with the Hammer stamp as well.
Keychain knives 001.jpg
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Re: Colonial knife company?

Post by shugy »

This is the only colonial I have, it 's stamped colonial Prov usa. no idea what year? ::shrug::
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Re: Colonial knife company?

Post by TripleF »

Unfortuntely for us, Colonial didn't do much as far as differentiating with tang stamps.

Could been several million pieces made over a stretch of 30 or 40 years.......
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Re: Colonial knife company?

Post by 268bull »

Picked up a Colonial Fish - Knife yesterday at an estate sale. Unfortunately, there's a hitch in the get along with my down loading pics, so I can't show it. I believe the knife is dated to the mid - 50's. I'm saying that only because of the phone # and how it's presented ( just 4 digits ). The rest of the ad on the handle says; Stanley Garage Door Co., Seattle Wash. Considering the good condition it's in, I just don't believe it ever met the belly of a steelhead or trout. It has the appearance of having been tucked away in the previous owner's dresser drawer. ::tu:: Bull
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Re: Colonial knife company?

Post by jerryd6818 »

TripleF wrote:Colonial Camper's Combination Hobo Knife....just came in today!
I have one of those Scott. The condition is not as good as yours. There was buyers remorse when I received it in the mail (poor pictures in the listing) but I'm used to it now.
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Colonial USA.JPG
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