All About Pocket Knives

Those red handles are cool Cato! Thanks for sharin it

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

Gotta post this beauty in here before it leaves....

Red is dangerous Scott, she looks like she gets around, definitely a quality shell.

Bought this one yesterday, absolutely mint, wish I knew when Colonial quit making these traditional shell-handled pocketknives.

Beautiful OH!!

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

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.

I just picked these up

Nice Crossbar and Kamp Kings Gino!

Thanks Perry

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

Nice shells Gino. Especially the crossguard.

Very knice Gino!

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

Thanks Guys! Here is a open pic Joe, I like it.

Yes sir, when it comes to collecting the shell handles, it's all about the colors.
WB

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

I'd say it did Joe. I call that color .

Those are some I ain't even seen before Joe, WOOOHOO!

Wow Joe! Wonderful stubbies.

Nice set!

Glenn

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

Oooh, that's a nice one Bob! I always called that handle the basket weave. I have a pen knife in this same handle.

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

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.