shell handled knives
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gino
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Re: shell handled knives
Those red handles are cool Cato! Thanks for sharin it 
-( life is too short to carry a cheap knife )-
- whitebuffalo58
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Re: shell handled knives
Thanks Joe! I think I knew that, but my brain just don't work like it used to. I appreciate the refresher course.
I used to buy the shell handled knives as a kid by pickin' up returnable pop bottles out of the ditches and cashin' 'em in. It only took about 20 bottles for most patterns. On a good weekend you could buy 2 or 3 knives. They're still inexpensive by most standards, but I sure miss those early days. I wish now i'd have bought more of them then I did. But hey, there were other things to consider. BB's for your Red Ryder, model cars (paints, glues, etc...), Hot Wheels, a deck of cards to put in the spokes of your bike, new rear tire for your bike after spending a weekend of challenges to see how far you could leave skid marks. With all those responsibilities, it's wonder I ever had the money to buy any at all!
WB
I used to buy the shell handled knives as a kid by pickin' up returnable pop bottles out of the ditches and cashin' 'em in. It only took about 20 bottles for most patterns. On a good weekend you could buy 2 or 3 knives. They're still inexpensive by most standards, but I sure miss those early days. I wish now i'd have bought more of them then I did. But hey, there were other things to consider. BB's for your Red Ryder, model cars (paints, glues, etc...), Hot Wheels, a deck of cards to put in the spokes of your bike, new rear tire for your bike after spending a weekend of challenges to see how far you could leave skid marks. With all those responsibilities, it's wonder I ever had the money to buy any at all!
WB
- TripleF
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Re: shell handled knives
Gotta post this beauty in here before it leaves....
SCOTT
https://www.allaboutpocketknives.com/catalog/triplef
Colonial Knife Company History ebook:
https://gumroad.com/l/ZLDb
Blog: https://scottrauberoutdoors.wordpress.c ... e-26-2026/
https://www.allaboutpocketknives.com/catalog/triplef
Colonial Knife Company History ebook:
https://gumroad.com/l/ZLDb
Blog: https://scottrauberoutdoors.wordpress.c ... e-26-2026/
- singin46
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Re: shell handled knives
Red is dangerous Scott, she looks like she gets around, definitely a quality shell. 
Love all Jacks
- Old Hunter
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Re: shell handled knives
Bought this one yesterday, absolutely mint, wish I knew when Colonial quit making these traditional shell-handled pocketknives.
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
- TripleF
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Re: shell handled knives
Beautiful OH!! 
SCOTT
https://www.allaboutpocketknives.com/catalog/triplef
Colonial Knife Company History ebook:
https://gumroad.com/l/ZLDb
Blog: https://scottrauberoutdoors.wordpress.c ... e-26-2026/
https://www.allaboutpocketknives.com/catalog/triplef
Colonial Knife Company History ebook:
https://gumroad.com/l/ZLDb
Blog: https://scottrauberoutdoors.wordpress.c ... e-26-2026/
- Joe Dirt
- Posts: 1747
- Joined: Tue Mar 16, 2010 4:10 pm
- Location: N.C. USA
Re: shell handled knives
I pretty sure there NOT making them anymore, Hunter (to answer your other post).
However, the owner of Colonial IS an AAPK member (He is a descendant of the founders!)!
You can find his contact info in the Knife Lore topic under the post: "Colonial Knife Company",
maybe he could give us a little info. on when they started and stopped making shell handle
knives! The latest date I have on a Colonial blister pack with that handle is 1977. Mint knives
pop up every now and then! Nice one
Guess China has got the handle on ALL the cheaply priced knives nowadays.
.... Joe
However, the owner of Colonial IS an AAPK member (He is a descendant of the founders!)!
You can find his contact info in the Knife Lore topic under the post: "Colonial Knife Company",
maybe he could give us a little info. on when they started and stopped making shell handle
knives! The latest date I have on a Colonial blister pack with that handle is 1977. Mint knives
pop up every now and then! Nice one
Guess China has got the handle on ALL the cheaply priced knives nowadays.
.... Joe
I've got a camouflage knife, but I can't find it.......
..... cardboard addicted.....
"The old timer's concentrated on making knives; not keeping records!!" ~ Bonfire bob
..... cardboard addicted.....
"The old timer's concentrated on making knives; not keeping records!!" ~ Bonfire bob
- Old Hunter
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Re: shell handled knives
Thanks for the compliments on the knife guys. Joe, thanks for the information on Colonial; the mid 70's is while back (much further than I would have guessed), but like you say occasionally something nice and new pops up. I will stick with "USA made" as long as they are out there, should be enough to last the balance of my lifetime! That said, I will/do buy the products of countries that are our friends (and not our enemies) when needed (i.e., Canada, England, Australia, Germany, S. Korea, Switzerland, Taiwan, etc.) - have to support our good trading partners too.
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
-
gino
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Re: shell handled knives
I just picked these up
- Attachments
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- best4[1].JPG (39.04 KiB) Viewed 1819 times
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- best5[1].JPG (33.6 KiB) Viewed 1819 times
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- best6[1].JPG (37.7 KiB) Viewed 1819 times
-( life is too short to carry a cheap knife )-
- singin46
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gino
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- whitebuffalo58
- Posts: 2743
- Joined: Tue Aug 17, 2010 2:35 am
- Location: SW MO Heart of the Ozarks
Re: shell handled knives
That's a good'n OH!
Gino, don't look to me like there's a bad one in the bunch! Well done my friend!
No wonder i'm havin' such a hard time scorein' a good shell these days. You fellas are stiff competition!!
WB
Gino, don't look to me like there's a bad one in the bunch! Well done my friend!
No wonder i'm havin' such a hard time scorein' a good shell these days. You fellas are stiff competition!!
WB
- edgy46
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- Location: S. W. Ohio
Re: shell handled knives
Nice shells Gino. Especially the crossguard. 
An uncontrolled accumulator.
Bill
Bill
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Re: shell handled knives
Very knice Gino! 
SCOTT
https://www.allaboutpocketknives.com/catalog/triplef
Colonial Knife Company History ebook:
https://gumroad.com/l/ZLDb
Blog: https://scottrauberoutdoors.wordpress.c ... e-26-2026/
https://www.allaboutpocketknives.com/catalog/triplef
Colonial Knife Company History ebook:
https://gumroad.com/l/ZLDb
Blog: https://scottrauberoutdoors.wordpress.c ... e-26-2026/
- Joe Dirt
- Posts: 1747
- Joined: Tue Mar 16, 2010 4:10 pm
- Location: N.C. USA
Re: shell handled knives
Man, those are in great condition, Gino!!
The Imperial "Cross-Bar" pattern is one of the patterns that was sold to Colonial - I have no idea what year.
..... Joe
The Imperial "Cross-Bar" pattern is one of the patterns that was sold to Colonial - I have no idea what year.
..... Joe
I've got a camouflage knife, but I can't find it.......
..... cardboard addicted.....
"The old timer's concentrated on making knives; not keeping records!!" ~ Bonfire bob
..... cardboard addicted.....
"The old timer's concentrated on making knives; not keeping records!!" ~ Bonfire bob
-
gino
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Re: shell handled knives
Thanks Guys! Here is a open pic Joe, I like it. 
-( life is too short to carry a cheap knife )-
- whitebuffalo58
- Posts: 2743
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- Location: SW MO Heart of the Ozarks
Re: shell handled knives
Yes sir, when it comes to collecting the shell handles, it's all about the colors.
WB
- Joe Dirt
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Re: shell handled knives
I really like that knife, Gino!
Umm.... WB, I think the color fell off that one!
The 1 & 2 blade "Dwarf" (Topsy) toothpick is another pattern that Imperial sold to Colonial!
I haven't seen the Colonials in anything other than that jigged plastic in black and varying shades of brown.
The handles on them look like the stuff they were making in the '60s.
Colonials are at the top right and top middle in this pic.
.... Joe
Umm.... WB, I think the color fell off that one!
The 1 & 2 blade "Dwarf" (Topsy) toothpick is another pattern that Imperial sold to Colonial!
I haven't seen the Colonials in anything other than that jigged plastic in black and varying shades of brown.
The handles on them look like the stuff they were making in the '60s.
Colonials are at the top right and top middle in this pic.
.... Joe
I've got a camouflage knife, but I can't find it.......
..... cardboard addicted.....
"The old timer's concentrated on making knives; not keeping records!!" ~ Bonfire bob
..... cardboard addicted.....
"The old timer's concentrated on making knives; not keeping records!!" ~ Bonfire bob
- whitebuffalo58
- Posts: 2743
- Joined: Tue Aug 17, 2010 2:35 am
- Location: SW MO Heart of the Ozarks
Re: shell handled knives
I'd say it did Joe. I call that color
.

- singin46
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- glennbad
- Gold Tier

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Re: shell handled knives
Wow Joe! Wonderful stubbies.
Nice set!
Glenn
Nice set!
Glenn
-
trutemper
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Re: shell handled knives
Howdy guys....man I been workin too much!! Nice to get back here to check out all the dandies you guys been showin!
Hey Joe and Perry! Ran into another one of those cool swedge Hammers again....startin to get a collection of these(always on the lookout!)!
Bob
Bob
- singin46
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Re: shell handled knives
Oooh, that's a nice one Bob!
I always called that handle the basket weave. I have a pen knife in this same handle. 
Love all Jacks
- glennbad
- Gold Tier

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Re: shell handled knives
Hey! Can't let this thread fall into page 2.
Here's a couple that are pretty cool to me.
This is a little multiblade, I"m not sure of the model name.

Here's a little midget set. It comes in a little box(not shown)

This last one, I have never seen another anywhere else. If anybody has one like it, please show it.

Glenn
Here's a couple that are pretty cool to me.
This is a little multiblade, I"m not sure of the model name.

Here's a little midget set. It comes in a little box(not shown)

This last one, I have never seen another anywhere else. If anybody has one like it, please show it.

Glenn
- singin46
- Posts: 8126
- Joined: Thu Feb 08, 2007 6:57 am
- Location: MUSIC CITY
Re: shell handled knives
That last one I have never seen before either Glenn, great lookin knife! The first I'm pretty sure would fall under the "Vest Pocket" category although JoeDirt may have a better, more to the point name for it. That little set is killer too.
Thanks for showin them Glenn! I got a new one comin in right now with slanted bolsters and is supposed to be NOS.
Love all Jacks