All About Pocket Knives

I thought a memorial tribute to our "Bonfire Bob", Robert Anthony Paolantonio, would be in order here at the beginning of the Christmas season. I encourage each member to post a few favorite Colonial's in memory of RAP. OH

I am going to post from three level's of Colonial Knives I own, first the top level; I am privileged to own one RAP (not so marked, but certified by Bob). This one in the pocket worn style; a jigged, red bone Barlow, made by Bob - as nice as any Case I own. My second knife is from the Old Cutler series, produced to complete with Schrade's Old Timer and similar, better quality production knives - mine was a gift from Philco here on AAPK several years ago. Finally a knife Colonial is so well known for, one of the thousands of inexpensive, shell handled knives of the type purchased off display cards in gas stations, hardware stores, country stores, etc. RIP Bob! OH

I only have four. The fourth is fodder for a POS roundtable.

The other three. The SAK type was a gift (thank you Mike) and the other two were purchased on purpose. I'm not drawn to the shell handle knives.

Colonial 4 piece hobo set with box.

Wayne

Heritage Cutlers Inc. --Cranston,R.I. ---founded 2010 by Bobby Paolantonio,after leaving Colonial ***

Chocolate Marble Wood, 1095 Carbon Steel,HC15 Barlow



RIP ""Bonfire Bob""

Here's my three to contribute to this remembrance of Bonfire Bob.

Here's a really old blue swirl one that I am quite fond of. I remember Bobby gave me a big when he saw it too!

RIP Bobby

Bobby and I were close friends and he always had some kind of project going on.
He must have had thousands of the little "skeletons" or sometimes he would
call them "jewlers knives." The type he would send with his book.

The last project we were working on was his buisness cards - actually more of
a "calling card" to pass out to premote his book.

I had just finished the graphics for this project and submitted them to him for his aproval.
He gave me the thumbs up and said to go ahead and go for it.

Sadly, they were never compleated and never will be...
Below is the sheet that were to be made as decals for the front and back of the knives.

Joe

This is sad news .... it was September and Bob was home and posting here , I thought he was out of the woods and doing well . RIP Mr. P

Bruce.....Thanks for starting this thread. I appreciate it.

Over the past couple years Bob and I had grown pretty close for a long-distance, never-met before relationship! He trusted me more than his own family as he sent me numerous of his private stock knife collection to sell for him. I was honored that he thought me to be the best salesman he ever met.

Sadly, sadly......he has left our presence here, but lives in peace now.

It still troulbes me that he's no longer here........

Here's a couple Bob gifted me: (last pic is of Bob and his wife JoAnn).
If anyone would like to send a card I have an address for JoAnn.

My relationship with Bob was one of respect. He never failed to follow up on a question that I had for all things Colonial. His passing will leave a factual void where Myth is the norm.
R.I.P. Bob

R.I.P.
RAP
Cutler

I just now stumbled onto this post and am in shock;didn't know of Bob's passing. I never met him in person but in our back and forths on here he was always helpful and upbeat.I will miss him.
My submissions are:
My first Colonial knife advertising DuPont explosives obtained from a very old friend.
A Colonial Barlow in the form of a TL-s9 which I thought was a bit rare.
A pair of Colonial fishtails;one of which was given to me by a friend who got it from his grandfather.
My rarest Colonial;a folding hunter/cleaver combination.
The last is probably the craziest:a giveaway from Colonial Knife Co.that is probably the worst example of cutlery if you are trying to impress a potential customer.The name is ground off;the fit is horrendous and it was probably a,"third";not a second.However I think it is a neat piece of history and I treasure it as much as any of my knives.

I have always admired that cleaver, k7k!
I remember Bobby saying the knives with the hatchet were a bit
of a novalty that they first made for personal use in gathering
fresh mushrooms for those good ol Itialian dinners!

Here is something I will never forget...

I saw this guarantee at the bottom of a paper that Bobby had posted.
It came along with some of the knives Colonial offered - the Old Cutler Series.

I was joking when I croped it out of the paper and I asked him if he would
still honer it. He said he srue would! I replied that I was only "pulling his
leg". Yet, he insisted I send him the knife in need of a "tune up."
I DID NOT have an Old Cutler that needed any work, what so ever.

An hour later my phone rang. It was Bobby, still insisting that I send him
the knife!??? Well, I went along with it - sending him $1 and a perfectly
good knife. O.K., to keep this story a little shorter,... two weeks later...
He was still a master cutler. These pics tell the rest.

(PS. There is a memorial fund for Bobby's wife, Joann, set up. The link can be found
in the "Upper Room" topic. Or just type in your brouser "Master Cutler, Robert Paolantonio.")

Joe

Edit: To add a couple more pics

That is unbelievable Joe! Totally awesome!

We made a good friend didn't we bud? So sad to think that he's not here......

Is Bob's book still available in print version? If so, where?

Just not sure how to aquire one yet, edge.

I'm sure copies are still available through Joann.
I don't have her e-mail address but I will speek
with her soon.

You could possably contact her though at her home
address; it is contained in the link below. Bobby was
selling them from there at the house in R.I.


Fundraiser link with Joann's address:
http://www.youcaring.com/memorial-fundr ... ial/281449

Joe

Here is a knife my friend gifted to me for Christmas this last year. I had told him about Bob. I had made a knife sheath and was going to surprise him with it at our weekly Sunday morning breakfast together. He surprised me with this Colonial camping knife. It is brand new.

RIP Bob

Steve

Thought I'd bring this one back up to the top today in remembrance of our dear friend Bonfire Bob. Here's to you my friend.

They were some of the Knifes of my Childhood, Colonial Barlows.

I never knew Bonfire Bob, never chatted with him, never even knew he existed until I found this forum recently. However after reading through this Colonial forum, some parts numerous times, I almost feel as if I did know him a little. He helped educate me a little about my new passion Old Cutler knives and even now his enthusiasm for all things Colonial inspires me to learn more. I wish I had known him.

My RAP Cutler

edge213 wrote: ↑Tue Feb 03, 2015 7:52 pm Is Bob's book still available in print version? If so, where?

Check with Scott.
Triple F

Bobby was a great guy, very personable and helpful. I bought his book from him, happy I did.