All About Pocket Knives

I lived with a girl back in mid 70's & she carried a Colonial fruit knife in her purse didn't even realize what it was supposed to be used for--I'm sure she still packs some sort of knife to this day

Thanks gents...
More importantly, thank you guys and gals ! !
The history of Colonial Knife is very interesting, so to speak...
Without sounding like a salesman again, it is difficult to explain
what it felt like walking through a huge functioning, working,
knife factory. The sounds, the smells, the feeling..

Piles of steel boxed parts everywhere, and all still under control.
This white shell two blade jack knife has been re-designed, re-
altered, re-done so many times...BUT the skeleton consisting of liners,
springs and blades is what controls the strenght of the model...
The same tools that blanked steel liners for the Barlow, years later
blanked the # 720 Old Cutler with solid brass liners.. 0.32 to be exact.
We made this outstanding style for 60 years!
B.P. CKCo.

Here's a recent Colonial pickup! Very cool little 3 1/4" advertising knife for Sauk Co Farmers Union Co-op in Baraboo, Wis.
That's near Wisconsin Dells which is about 1 1/2 hours or so from where I live.

Bobby what can you tell me about this particular style of jack? How it was constructed and perhaps when it was made?
Thanks for any info!

Mike

I'm not Bobby, and I'm not the pro, but I'm guessing just a smidge over 47 buhzillion of this jacks were made over Colonials time!

Thanks Mike!
Our pal Scott is correct in his assesment of how many were made, for how many years, and when production started on this style and stopped.
I think this was our # 26 shell knife but I could be wrong. Not likely.
The last knife we spoke of here was the "Barlow shaped" FULL shell knife, the # 2621. This number I believe was reduced some years later and was called the # 21.
The # 26 was another full shell knife basically designed for ad specialty purposes and the amount of printing surface is almost 95%! The full shell that was dished out all around and as close to the edge as possible when blanked, was a good design because it acted as the knife's liner AND, a surface to apply the plastic Celluliod insert. A perfect printing surface....and economical..
The fascinating part for me is to see these company logo's from all over the world pop up on all these ad spec. items!!
Mike, we made these from the early 70's and up! Keep hunting!!

Never seen one exactly like this before. I snatched it up for $5

Anvil Pro-Tool
Colonial, Prov. USA

Hi. Long time reader, first time poster. I am a big Colonial fan -especially the Ranger line -so many great memories of these knives.

I found this nice Ranger Lg. stockman recently. It's Ranger marked with the proper patent stamp. The Imperial shield is the mystery. Any input?

-Todd

Nice find Brian!!!!
This is a rare knife! Delrin yellow Delrin handles, and the pocket (master) blade has a half
" Scalloped " set edge! NOT serrated as we know it with a much smaller grind. Most of your single lock blade, belt clip deffense type knifes have a half Scalloped edge, including tons of different styles. I was working with Americo, our chief grinding foreman when they designed this wheel, just to do this secondary sharpening opperation.
We made a VERY limited amount of these edges, and I don't know why we stoped.
This # 2902 Anvil Pro-tool was made probably in the late 80's and were not mass produced.
On the other hand, our brown plastic handled Electritian Knife, # 2901, 2902, and 2903, one, two, and three blade respectively, were made for many years! The 2903 and it's big hook blade was a favorite by the masses.
5 bucks, you stole it!! You know why Brian?? I'm just about the only man alive that knows it's history. That information in itself about your knife, makes it valuable..
Cheers my friend, don't EVER sell it....
Bobby P. CKCo....

Thanks for the info Bobby P.

I hope you are doing well and I really value your insight

I was gonna reply that was the "scallop" edge. Thanks for giving me knife knowledge a boost Bobby!

Knice score Brian!!

Good question pipedreams.......hopefully Bobby knows the answer!

Thanks Scott

Holy cow Todd, Scott's right.. this is a good test for a true Colonial pro, so I'll do my best.
As far as I can see, it has a small Colonial tang stamp, correct?? The blade configuration was almost identical to Colonial AND Imperial Knife three blade stockman's back then....
Keep this in mind guys....the Marrandoe's and the Fizzonoes were our cousins that ran Imperial Knife so who knows what the old timers shared back then!!! I'm here to say, I honestly don't know and most of thier secrets died with them.....sorry about the spelling...
The Imperial shield could be a special order that they might have done.
To be absolutely honest with the collector's here and forward. these plasic handles are not
something often used....My grandpa Fred ran the assembly department for years at Imperial..
I have to do some research on this before I can say for sure...Fair enough??
(calling cousins and uncles for this one...)
Bobby P. tough one...

Are the bolsters pressed on like a Colonial? I been waiting to hear your reply on that knife--Were those two knife plant's close to each other? I been interested in Imperial these last few years also tell us anything you know of that company too.

Thanks or the replies. This one has bugged me (in a good way) for some time, so I sure appreciate your expertise, Bobby. PigSticker - yes, they appear to be the patented Colonial bolsters.

More, hopefully better pictures:

Close up.



Tang stamp.


Patent stamp.

-Todd

Thanks Scott...
Your Colonial Knife expert here at your disposale folks!

Great job Todd...
That's why I love Judge Judy!!
The facts, the law, and the truth......
The bolster pat. # is all I had to see to confirm it's origin..
The "Ranger" tang stamp tells me a private label, special order company placed an order and the plastic handles are rare....
Imperial could have been any company from Imperial brand butter to God only knows....
Ad specialty was a million dollar per year entity in itself for years at Colonial...
This is a keeper Todd!
Bobby P. CKCo...

Hi, Bobby. Thanks for talking with me. I'm not sure the answer is as simple as an advertising knife. I found this pic by Campbellclanman over on Bladeforums:



Thread:
http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showt ... able/page3

The covers/shield sure look like stock Imperial offerings. Maybe it's a "lunchbox knife"or a rehandled hodgepodge? Regardless, it's great tapping your knowledge of Colonial knives. I do love a good mystery, though.

-Todd

I'm no pro pipedreams, but I'm thinking your knife was re-done and Colonial blades OR Imperial handle used because one or the other was in such good condition, but the missing or broken part had to be replaced with something.

Why do I say this.....look at the finish where the handle meets the bolster? It's not square, or tight as I would call it. It's off-alignment!

I bet if you looked close you'd see more hints like this......

I think it was a RANGER that had replaced handles by Imperial.......done by a basement knife enthusiast!

TripleF wrote:I'm no pro pipedreams, but I'm thinking your knife was re-done and Colonial blades OR Imperial handle used because one or the other was in such good condition, but the missing or broken part had to be replaced with something.

Why do I say this.....look at the finish where the handle meets the bolster? It's not square, or tight as I would call it. It's off-alignment!

I bet if you looked close you'd see more hints like this......

I think it was a RANGER that had replaced handles by Imperial.......done by a basement knife enthusiast!

Scott,
That's the way I'm leaning. Fun old knife! Maybe Bobby will pick up another clue from his kin, though. Thanks.
-Todd

No questions on this. Just a pic of a nice Med. Ranger Stockman.

-Todd

Beauty Todd!

Spot on Scott! In the previous pics I couldn't see the tang stamp but it's clear as day here!! Tang stamp and master blade with etching tells me Imperial all day long. Handles are NOT Colonial's also..maybe someone else might be able to provide some additional insight we're not aware of.
Todd, there's a nice # 923 Ranger, plated bolster's and for sure a Colonial! Still sharp as a bitch I bet! Nice grinding is perfect for a superb set edge...
Good job boys, especially Scott!! Eye's like a hawk this man has!!
God I love this sight!! Three cheers for AAPK !!!
One more point about the Imperial..the master blade grinding starts at the kick end goes to the start of the nail mark..All Colonial's have an absolute grind straight across the blade.
Our German Grinding machines made a solid grind, from the kick to the top of the blade....
Right Scott?? Never remind a man of what he clearly already knows!! haha....
Bobby P. CKCo..."Cutler for ever"....

No clue Bobby.....no clue.

I just knew the tang stamp and handle shield DID NOT go together....or at least I think that's what I knew. I've only been messing with knives for 2.5 years.

Acquired a nice Colonial jack today love the steel in these blades and the scales are tight.

Knice Garddogg!