Colonial Knife Company Collector's Forum

[Miller Bro's]

It is stamped Palco,Worc USA.

I am convinced it was made by Ideal Knife Co.

[knifetime]

Thanks for the help guy's. I have no idea on this company at all other than I have seen alot of camping equipment with their stamp.Ether way I own it now.
Joe it looks the same and I have seen that same handle material on Colonial.
Miller I don't know much about Ideals knives at all. You could be very right.

[Bonfire bob]

Very good Miller Bro's !!
We're talking about sometime in the "industrial revolution" when tool makers were a dime a dozen!! We were making tools for everything back then and I think that Palco could very well been made by Ideal Knife or even Providence Cutlery! IF it were an old Colonial, it would have a curved tang stamp..and it would say Colonial...
Great job everybody!! I love this site just for this reason!

[knifetime]

It is stamped Palco,Worc USA.

I am convinced it was made by Ideal Knife Co.

Dimitri I was just wondering what gives it away. I see a chance to learn something. Thanks again.

[Bonfire bob]

YES!! Proof positive it's NOT a Colonial by the testimony of the tang stamp alone!
I'm not sure what ever happened to Ideal if or when they ever left Providence, R.I.
I have been through the old factory of Ideal in Prov., about 40 years ago....
My personal info about Ideal ended years ago....
Bobby P. CKCo....

[Joe Dirt]

Bobby, did Colonial ever make knives on contract for KNIFE manufacturers?
Not contract knives for advertising, but like the Imperial Schrade knives that were made by Camillus.

Thanks man!

..... Joe

[Bonfire bob]

Another fantastic question from our southern Cutler Joe K....
A lot of this "production swapping" went on through most of the Northeastern states, where you find a majority of very early pocket knife manufacturing plants like Colonial, Imperial, Schrade, and Camillus.
We had our "Old Cutler" grade trapper's made by Camillus and Colonial made knives for Blue Ridge and especially for folks like my old friend, Adrian Harris from "Colonel Coon" brand knives!!
It was cheaper for us to have Camillus make our Trapper's rather than "tooling up" ourselve's as it was easier for Adrian to start his line using Colonial parts for years...
Bobby P. CKCo..

[Bonfire bob]

Hey guys and gals!!
I am getting mails from AAPK marked "unknown folder".....
Please send all messages here or at my private e-mail, bonfirebob11@cox.net.
Thanks! Bobby P..

[Joe Dirt]

Thanks for the info, Bobby.
Hay, maybe we'll see some "Adrian Harris Green Bone" on here soon!

...... Joe

[knifetime]

YES!! Proof positive it's NOT a Colonial by the testimony of the tang stamp alone!
I'm not sure what ever happened to Ideal if or when they ever left Providence, R.I.
I have been through the old factory of Ideal in Prov., about 40 years ago....
My personal info about Ideal ended years ago....
Bobby P. CKCo....

Well Bobby I have found that Ideal was in business from around 1920 to 1985 but that is about it. I have never saw many of their knives so I don't even know what to look for.
I will say after receiving the knife it is a very decent set. The utensils are ss and the blade is cv. The spoon and fork are marked ss on the tangs.

[Miller Bro's]

I was just wondering what gives it away. I see a chance to learn something. Thanks again.

The can opener

[knifetime]

Ok I will study that and know what to look for.
Good info

[Joe Dirt]

Great eye on that can opener, MB!

Knifetime, I also noted that the Colonials only have "Stainless" in one line or two lines
stamped ONLY on the fork and NOT on the spoon.

STAIN
LESS

or

STAINLESS
COLONIAL

...... Joe

[gino]

I just picked this one up this morning

[knifetime]

Great eye on that can opener, MB!

Knifetime, I also noted that the Colonials only have "Stainless" in one line or two lines
stamped ONLY on the fork and NOT on the spoon.

STAIN
LESS

or

STAINLESS
COLONIAL

...... Joe

Joe I just checked that hobo and it is only stamped ss on the fork and not the spoon. Must be how some com did it.
It is stamped
Stain
Less

[Bonfire bob]

Yeah buddy....
The old timer's concentrated on making knives; not keeping records!!

[Bonfire bob]

Hello Gino!
Nice # 2903 Electrician Colonial!!
The second blade was a wire stripper/screw driver combo with a "Liner Lock"..!!
There weren't many liner locks out when we first flew this particular bird in the early 70's.
Particular means the hard plastic handles that are here and the plated bolster's.
We made this model with a harder "Delrin" handle in the 90's and we actually made the G I
Electrian's for the US.. Blades and springs were all 1/8'; .125 I believe...
DAM I can't believe I didn't save one of those..WAIT ! maybe I did ! I gotta' look..
We sold and made literally MILLIONS of these very popular handy "tool Box" item!!
Nice score although my friend....It's means much to me cause it's still alive and it's
actual age is at least 22 years young!
Bobby P. CKCo.

[knifetime]

Well I got one of the hobos you may have had a hand in Bobby. It is a Colonial and not in bad shape.
I realy like the little hobo' s.
Hey Bobby i noticed that the bail was missing on this one when I bought it would that be something you may have on hand to sale me?

[Bonfire bob]

Hey Phill, nice find!!
Our # 2644 Camper's Combo was made for many years in many handle styles.
This model was a "shell" style and I do have some old squeeze on bails and would be glad
to send you a couple. Just use an appropriate plier's to squeeze the bail on...
I have your address and will send you a couple Mon., or Tues...no charge of course...
Here's a shot of Colonial's last and final catalogue in 1995.. we sold them up to the end...
Bobby P..CKCo... CFE..(Cutler for ever)....

[knifetime]

Well thanks Bobby that's sure good of you and thanks for the pic, great reference material.
I hope to be gitting another Colonial hobo just about like that one in a day or to.
What would we Colonial collectors do without you. We would be a lot worse off that is for sure.

[junebug]

thats AWESOME.........very COOL of ya BOBBY

AAPK ROCKS

[Bonfire bob]

Thanks guys, I appreciate all the compliments!!
I will always be here for you all..(God willing).!!
I'm sending your bails today Phil, I hope they work for you.
I sent you two in case you mess one up...
My pleasure..Bobby P. CKCo..CFE..(Cutler for ever)..my new abreviation!!

[knifetime]

Well Bob you deserve it. You have been great help to a lot of us on hear.
Hear is another Colonial hobo i scored.
I remember from your book your dad kept a camp set on his desk. What years were those made Bobby? I have never saw one like the set your dad had. Was that a special run or a production set.

[Bonfire bob]

Hey Phil...these were very popular as you might imagine and were made from the mid 60's up to the version you have here, about late 80's to early 90's....
Bobby P., CFE...(Cutler for ever)....

[knifetime]

Got the parts and just wanted to say thanks.Went on smooth with no trouble.
I still have a question about the set from your book,the one on your dads desk,is that a 3 piece set? It looks like a 3 piece set. If so what years where those mad?

I picked this one up last week it is a knife/money clip that has the Anvil tang stamp. I believe that was a Colonial stamp Bobby,am I right in thinking that. If so can you give me any information on them. It is a great little knife,just a real cool looking finish.