All About Pocket Knives

I have been looking to get a low priced Riggers knife. I have a Rough Rider that I use alot and actually like - but it bugs me that the Marlin spike does not lock properly on it.

I came across these Colonial ones, but would like to know more about them:

Are they brand new?
Looks like a navy issue knife.
Where does Colonial actually make knives in the US?

http://cgi.ebay.com/Colonial-Marlin-Spi ... 35a8831bae

Looks alot like my Camillus. Cant tell you anything about it though. Mark

Pen & Toothpick wrote:I have been looking to get a low priced Riggers knife. I have a Rough Rider that I use alot and actually like - but it bugs me that the Marlin spike does not lock properly on it.

I came across these Colonial ones, but would like to know more about them:

Are they brand new?
Looks like a navy issue knife.
Where does Colonial actually make knives in the US?

http://cgi.ebay.com/Colonial-Marlin-Spi ... 35a8831bae

Colonial is in Warwick, Rhode Island.

Ok I bought one, I don't know if I over payed for it at just under $ 28.00. I couldn't find it anywhere else. I did see several other colonial knives for sale outside of E-Bay. I will make a post as to how it stacks up against the Rough Rider I have for use.

I spoke with the people at World Knives and they said the Colonial rigger they are selling is made in China.

trail wrote:I spoke with the people at World Knives and they said the Colonial rigger they are selling is made in China.

Then the Ebay seller is being very misleading if you look at the picture. Also. I can't believe that a Gov issue knife would be made in China. I didn't really trust that the knife was made in USA from the start though.

I'll have to stop in sometime soon and ask them....

I had high hopes too when I saw that knife, that there was still an American manufacturer making a big rigger's knife. I thought it might be a Camillus, but when I downloaded pictures from the World Knives site and compared them to my Camillus I found enough differences to end that notion. I also blew up the tang stamp and examined it carefully but that was inconclusive, though it appears to read "China" under the line with "Prov R.I.". The "Gov Issue" etch on the blade doesn't mean much, anybody can put that on a knife - which Government are they referring to? That's why I went straight to the retailer and asked him. Has anybody put the question directly to the ebay seller? Pen, have you got yours yet, any markings that might clarify matters? If it's really an American made knife I'll buy one. I would love to find that Colonial is still making knives in the U.S. When I go to their web site, the new owners never state directly that they are still making knives in Rhode Island.

I was under the impression that the last USA ( made in America ) company to produce rigging knives was Camillus ... and I understand the properties of Camillus's namesake has been sold to a holding company that imports knives from China under the " NEW " Camillus name.

Please if I am wrong, someone correct me.


Dean

I thought the Camillus and Colonials look like the same too.

Ok so I got the Colonial a couple days ago. The best thing about it, the Marlin Spike actually does lock! But it does have issues! If I was to guess I would say it reminds me of the Pakastan steel knives I have...but I really don't know. The Rough Rider I have and this one are both 440 stainless - the rough rider is polished and I would call this one more of a milled finish.

The blade on the colonial is very thick and has a wedged blade edge more like an axe than a knife. To me it would be ideal for what someone said was a blade used to cut a rope by placing it against the rope and striking the blade.

The locking mechanism does work on the colonial but the opener is not properly seated along the grove, making it dificult to unlock - and most likely would cause further issues with wear.

P & T,

Are there any markings on your new knife to indicate where it was made?

Phil

The blade tang says:

Colonial
09
Prov.,RI


On the back it says 440A Stainless Steel

Someone here said they thought they were made in China, Madebe it had a sticker on it.

Knifeaholic said he would stop in and see if they are actually made in the USA.