All About Pocket Knives

Picked this one up off of Ebay...I was watching an auction on a Fight'n Rooster I wanted and this caught my eye with just a few seconds left to go on it. I bid the minimum (about 10 bucks w/free shipping) and I won it. I paid and got ready for the wait. Well the mailman dropped it off and I am impressed enough to do a review. First off this is what it looks like...



Came in a really nice box as well. Now I know the quality of the box has nothing to do with the knife but if I were going to give this as a gift it is a nice touch, the box fits well, holds closed with a magnet built into the flap, and came with a small wipe down cloth.

Fit and finish is above what I expected, a split spring whittler is a tough pattern to fit well but this was very nicely done, Liners are brass and it just fit together very nicely. I also have to say I would love to see some American companies doing bone jigging this nicely as well. All three blades were swedged on both sides...something that isn't always done and the swedge grind lines are near perfect. I also really like the pinched bolsters, they add "age" to a new knife.



The blade proportions are well sized to the knife and the blades themselves are centered extremely well without any blade rubbing...again tough in a split spring. Pull on the main is about a 7 with a very well defined half stop. The 2 pen blades are about a 4 as they are working off just half the spring but also have very definitive half stops...this knife walks and talks very well.





All three blades have the Colt stamp and the back of the main is etched with model and country of origin. The steel is reportedly 420 J2. All three blades had very good grind lines and a quick touch up on my Spyderco Tri-Angle with the white stones followed by a light stropping made them hair popping sharp.



There were a couple flaws...one pin was left a little high with a sharp edge, a dremel cured that in a couple seconds. The main had a couple light scratches that disappeared with a little Flitz. The big stylized C on the bolster is actually starting to grow on me...lol.

This knife retails for $22.95, you can find them in online stores for $15-$16 and you can luck out on Ebay and get a 10 buck deal. I am glad I bought this Colt...it is a very handsome knife and is sure to get it's sure of pocket time.

I bought a couple more of the Colt knives. The Gunstock pattern is every bit as nice as the Whittler. Near perfect grind lines and the swedge with the nail nick blends together exceptionally well. The bone isn't quite as dark on this one both it is very well matched on both side.

The Peanut is the one that got me excited tho. The swedged spear point main just hollers old school to me, again great grinds on both blades and the scaled down shield is a nice touch as well. The bone is darker on the peanut and on both knives thicker than one would expect. These are fat handles without being fat to the point of being ungainly. Both knives shaved my arm right out of the box. Spearpoint blades and a teardrop bolster...I absolutely love this take on the pattern.



and ya know...I am starting to really like that C...lol.

Thanks for the review, those are really nice looking Colts!

I've been thinking of buying one myself.
I especially like the titanium coated blade models, although I haven't seen one in person.
The black stag models look cool too.

My most recent import acquisition is a Boker Plus Yellow handle Congress in 440C,
for $8.16 (w/ free shipping). I can't wait to get it.
When the blade material selection improves on import knives, American and German
knifemakers are in serious trouble.

Blade steel on these is reportedly 420-J2, not a bad steel at all. Mine seem to be holding their edge well and sharpen easily. I have one of the Chinese made AG Russell 2008 Texas Ranger knives, it used 9Cr18Mov and it the equal of any US made knife and superior to many of them.

I like those patterns. Those are Queen/Schatt & Morgan pattern copies aren't they? What's the length of the gunstock pattern closed? They look nice.

Aimus

I wouldn't call them Queen/Schatt & Morgan copies any more than I would call Queen/Schatt & Morgan copies of Case or Robeson...many of these patterns have been around well before Queen/Schatt & Morgan were in business.

The Gunstock is 3 1/2' closed, 6 1/4' overall.

What does 420-j2 compare to?

Thanks Sounds like a person would spend alot of time on the rock keeping them sharp.

I haven't noticed that these lose their edge any quicker than knives like my CV Case knives. My normal routine is to check the edge at night before my knives I carried that day are put up, most time a simple stropping will restore the edge if the knife was lightly used. For nasty stuff like cardboard I tend to reach for a box cutter rather than my slip joints. If a stone is needed I have found just a few passes on the fine stones in my Spyderco Tri-Angle set does the job.

I have one of those Colts in the teardrop jack pattern. The honey colored stag bone handles were too much for me to resist. It holds an edge fairly well, although it definately is not a super steel. For under twenty bucks, it is a nice looking and decent quality user.

Phil

Just added this small double lockblade to the herd...again fit and finish is outstanding and overall the knife receives an A. Again look at the grind lines on the blades...I have been hard put to find new US made knives with grinds this even.

Not sure why S Colt had many Asian artifacts in his personal collection including edged weapons and firearms. He appreciated quality, no place of origin.

This tear drop pattern arrived today as well....the bear is a sterling inlay

Somehow I've ended up with 5 of these. Great value for money and each is a nice handful of knife. The packaging is attractive but OTT for a knife costing so little. Why not use lower cost packaging and better materials?

David

Given where it is being made I doubt the cost of the packaging is much of a factor. As for materials, the only thing that might need changed is the blade steel but I have to say after using mine for awhile I have no problems with the 420 J2, mine are sharpening well and holding the edge well. Casual use requires only a stropping to bring back the edge.

Are those colts holding and a good edge??

glenn wrote:Are those colts holding and a good edge??

PM sent.

Guys just received a colt jack knife from Philco Thank you very much!! I will be doing a daily test on this knife checking for edge holding and taking a edge and other things. Stand by for the testing. Fit and finish on this knife is very good and razor sharp out of the box...

I had to send all 5 of mine back. The colour was running off the scales onto my hand and whatever I put them down on. I hope they've solved that problem.

David

David,
What handle material did your knives have ?

philco wrote:David,
What handle material did your knives have ?

They were stag bone, philco.

Update!! The colt that Philco sent me has been used daily since I received it 3 weeks ago. I have cut into boxes, apples , tape, string, plastic packages, shaved a few sticks for walking sticks and sling shots.
The knife still has a good edge!! I will use it some more before I put it to the stone and see how it takes a edge. I have had some knives in the past that by now would have to be hit a few times on the stone.

So far I cannot complain one bit about this knife.

Good stuff, Glenn. Looks like they solved the stain problem. I suspect mine were from a batch that somehow missed a process in manufacture. They all came from the same UK vendor over just a couple of weeks. I have a Colt Stockman with horn scales and Titanium coated blades, but the truth is it has been sitting in a drawer for months without being used

David

I have had no problem with the scales.I will use this knife more this week and see how it takes the edge. It seems to hold up as good as many knives I have used so far.

I was thinking of buying a few of these knives. I was wondering what everyone thinks about the long term collectability? Will they gain value like case, camillus, schrade, etc. Or will they be more like the newer imperial knives?

I would not advise buying them with the idea of them gaining value as my motive. If you like the knives and want them as part of you collection then get them, but if you're banking on them becoming worth a lot of money down the road............Don't ! I really don't see China made knives being sought after collectables, at least in our lifetime.

I have several colts, and other makes with the 420 J2 blades....I am partial to double lockback knives. They are safer than others I had as a kid that folded on my fingers during use. I should have been more careful I suppose, but I like those double blades, and there aren't too many being made. Colt and other foreign makers have but a few....I sample them all and so far they are great little users.