All About Pocket Knives

In a collection of about 300 knives, belonging to my grandfather... There were many treasures I discovered.. Thanks largely to this group, I learned about many of the ones I now own. BUT! This tiny knife has me stumped... As a woman, the blue handle jumped out.. I love this one. Yet, have no clue what it was used for. It seems rather cheap in comparison to others. It's marked Colonial. I wondered if it was a promo type knife? I attached pictures, so I would love any info on my tiny blue knife. Thank you so much for your time.

Welcome to AAPK!!

Hopefully the grandson, Robert Paolantonio, of one of the founding fathers will be along shortly.

Knice collectible. Now try and get them in a bunch of different colors and carry on your grandfather's legacy!

Welcome to the forum, Cara!

WoW! Grandpa had 300 knives in his collection! Would love to see each and every one of them!

That's a sweet little Colonial ya got there. Surprisingly, those little knives are selling for around $15 at
auction (I know your not gonna sell gramps knife though), just can't believe the money that there bringing!!!
I believe originally the knife had a sheath with it.

Scott's correct... we've got our own Colonial guru - Mr. Colonial himself, right here with us!!!
Here's a link to Robert Paolantonio's blog promoting his NEW book.

http://myfamilybusinessbook.wordpress.com/

.......... Joe

You guys rock! Now.. Tell me when it came out and what it's cute little purpose was! I am so excited to learn all I can about these. He collected a little of everything but I have masses of vintage (and I mean early vintage... Like 30s) of Case and also German varieties. Yet, here I am most enthralled with a tiny blue Girly knife..

Unless the name "Colonial" is in a curved text it's difficult to tell when it was produced. I sent Bobby a PM and told him to stop by this thread and you wanted info.


BTW, it was used for cutting small things.

Here are the first few I found in a huge box, they had been untouched for 13 years. Thought a family member had taken them... I unwrapped the first one and realized it was his knives. It was a great find.

Whooooaaaaa! This is gonna be good!
(PS I have that same cook book - try the German potato salad. )

......... Joe

Sure.....like you can cook, Joe.

Knice knives Cara!

Hope you post lots of pics!

Here I am folks!! First off, welcome aboard Cara; it's nice to have a female collector here, especially with that box of gems you have!!! Me, Scott, and Joe will be over for coffee this afternoon!! Cara, you have come to the right place!! DON'T SELL ANYTHING untill you run it by the guys here at AAPK!! No kidding, we have the real Mcoy pro's here and we all do not want you to get robbed or taken with something that might be very valuable, and someone else leads you to believe it's not. I've been in the knife business for 35 + years and there are several real pro's here that WILL NOT do you wrong.
Before you do anything, get yourself a nice big spiral pad and begin to catalogue your knives. Just a simple name on the tang of the knife, down near the base, and any other desciption as far as handle material and model design, we guys are here for you.
DO NOT try selling these on e-bay untill you know EXACTLY what you have, and that's what we are all here for!!! I've been visiting this site for 4 months or so and please believe me, this is the most honest, sincere, accurate and knowlegable group of collector's I've ever had the pleasure of meeting!!! I name Joe Keating and Scott Rauber first because between them and myself, there's not to much we don't know about pocket knives!!
And as far as the rest of the followers here, they are all pro's and they really know thier stuff....
There is so much to tell but I will not take the whole spotlight; just the Colonial Knife portion of it...These little Cub Hunter's were made for many years beginning in the late 70's. This card of yours in the shape it's in in quite valuable! For the most part, Colonial always made an intermidiate quality and priced pocket knife and at one time, my company
was the second largest pocket knife manufacturer's in the world! The little Cub Hunter's were a large part of our Ad Specialty line because we could imprint on the little vinyle sheath they came in..OH MAN!!! Joe, Scott, where do we begin!!??
I'll give you a head start as far as Colonial is concerned Cara.. check out my blog at
[email protected], and I also have recently wrote a book about Colonial that goes back to 1903 when grandpa Fred arrived in America and eventually started the company..
Good luck and any other Colonial questions you might have, I'm your man..
FYI that Cub Hunter card full and in good shape is worth well over $ 100.00...
Your new friend, Bobby Paolantonio, Colonial Knife Company.....
You can always send me a message at : [email protected]

Oh good Lord have mercy, Bob, don't include me in that lot of 3. What I know wouldn't fit on the top of a bolster pin!


BTW, maybe you could tell Cara a little about her knife.....I think that's what she was asking....

Now Scott, you know more than you realize. In what your doing with buying and re-selling knives AND your
pocket knife review blog - your learning more an more every day. What do they say when asked how to become
a knife reader? Well, you've got to handle a LOT of knives. And that my friend is exactly what your doing!

And as for me - what I know would easily fit on a pin head.

Here are the card's Bobby is referring to. The full card IS NOT MINE - don't remember where I stole the pic... maybe ebay or
even here on the forum. The EMPTY card IS mine and 12 knives @ $15 is the reason it's still empty!

...... Joe

Knife Banter! Who knew it existed? Guys, I cannot wait to just sit down and take in all of the knowledge you all are so willing to share! I, however, am an interior decorator and Christmas is a busy time... But I will be back as soon as I can get some breathing room! I AM SO EXCITED! Thank y'all so so much!

Cara... Woman of (Future) mucho knife knowledge!

Oooooh!! I want all the knives and the little elephant display.. I would give anything to be able to ask my grandfather questions about when, where... But I have the knives and I will just cherish those. It's like Christmas early.. Thank you 3 guys for getting me started. I was hesitant to ask anything on a mostly male forum but you three have made me so glad I did! Y'all rock!

Yo Scott, Joe's right!! Don't run for cover so fast!! YOU my friend have EXTENSIVE knife knowledge so don't even try to sell yourself short.!! You see Cara, Scott's in sales...Joe and myself are cutler's, (can I apropriately put you in this catagory Joe), so Scott may not be a knife maker so to speak, he comes across hundreds of knives and has more knowledge than he might confess too!! haha!! you guys are a hoot...
Scott is our salesman, and he excellarates at that very well!! by the way Scott can be found at : www.pocketknivesblog.com.!! Got you buddy..!!
Back to the Cub Master... Cara, as history tells us, Colonial started the Cub Master logo back in 1939 with tiny bone handled fixed blade knives very similar to what you have...
The plastic shell handled one's like you have, (I thought that card was yours), is a later version of the same model; made many years later...
Joe K. is the mental man when it comes to what we call shell knives; that is, the bolster's are part of the liner assembly and they do not have solid N.S. bolster's...
(I hope our talk doesn't confuse her and she'll run for cover)!!
Just ask the questions you want Cara, and you'll get an honest answer here at AAPK!!!
Regardless, we're here for you...Bobby P..CKCo....

Please explain to me why I typed elephant as I looked at the cute little bear "cub"? I read that and decided it was my phone taking over... The cub card display and all information will be soaked up soon! And then, I am sure my questions will flow. Thank you all again. I am most grateful!

I can't see everything in those boxes well enough to tell what's there, but it looks to me like grandpa liked Bucks and Bokers.

No worries Cara; we all make mistakes! Like my terrible spelling sometimes!
Feel free to ask what ever questions you might have..
Bobby P...

Hey Cara, any more Colonial's in that box of toys you have?? December is here and I'm sure your up to your ears in holiday stuff like the rest of us! Stay here with your friends at AAPK... Bobby..