All About Pocket Knives

Have not found many of these over the years.

This one was made on contract by Colonial Knife Co., I was attracted to it because of the cleaver!


Please post them if you have any

Nice knife, I have been trying to find one with the cleaver.I have several with the hatchet.

Super cool knife Dimitri - why are they called Paris Bead knives

That looks like a real brut MB. I knew I had a cleaver knife in with all my parts knives. This one is an Imperial in relic condition showing the aftermath of celluloid outgassing. Doesn't have the coke bottle bolster of as heavy a cleaver as yours. Paris Bead branded knives are a tough find.

Good looking knife, Dimitri!

btrwtr wrote: ↑Tue May 28, 2024 1:19 pm This one is an Imperial in relic condition showing the aftermath of celluloid outgassing.

Wayne, I can't believe you haven't put that knife to right.
We'll wait.

Miller Bro's wrote: ↑Tue May 28, 2024 1:23 am Have.....

VERY NICE acquisition, Dimitri.
Those handles.....

knifegnome wrote: ↑Tue May 28, 2024 1:40 am Nice knife, I have been trying to find one with the cleaver.I have several with the hatchet.

I don't think they sold many, very impractical.

bestgear wrote: ↑Tue May 28, 2024 11:10 am Super cool knife Dimitri - why are they called Paris Bead knives

Thanks Tom

Paris Bead is the company that sold them. I have no substantial information about this company.

btrwtr wrote: ↑Tue May 28, 2024 1:19 pm That looks like a real brut MB. I knew I had a cleaver knife in with all my parts knives. This one is an Imperial in relic condition showing the aftermath of celluloid outgassing. Doesn't have the coke bottle bolster of as heavy a cleaver as yours. Paris Bead branded knives are a tough find.

Definitely a brute Wayne, much heavier than the Imperial.

Good to see you posting again

FRJ wrote: ↑Tue May 28, 2024 2:24 pm Good looking knife, Dimitri!

Thanks Joe

New_Windsor_NY wrote: ↑Tue May 28, 2024 2:30 pm VERY NICE acquisition, Dimitri.
Those handles.....

Thanks Skip, I don't have another knife with this particular pattern celluloid

There may be some additional information on Paris Bead Knives here.
https://www.allaboutpocketknives.com/kn ... hp?t=40385

Or here.
https://www.allaboutpocketknives.com/kn ... hp?t=61873

I really like the "cleavers". They are cool. I think I've seen an Imperial.
Just an aside. Here's an OLCUT (Union Cut.) with the hatchet. It's a big, heavy knife with that "good", KA-BAR celluloid in the handles. It must be a stable formula because it shows very minimal shrinkage and no lifting at all after 80 some years. It was my great-uncle's. George Szczech (Sash), who died at 90 in 1980. He kept it with his tools on his work-bench, right next to the furnace. J.O'.

Ridgegrass wrote: ↑Thu May 30, 2024 6:49 pm I really like the "cleavers". They are cool. I think I've seen an Imperial.
Just an aside. Here's an OLCUT (Union Cut.) with the hatchet. It's a big, heavy knife with that "good", KA-BAR celluloid in the handles. It must be a stable formula because it shows very minimal shrinkage and no lifting at all after 80 some years. It was my great-uncle's. George Szczech (Sash), who died at 90 in 1980. He kept it with his tools on his work-bench, right next to the furnace. J.O'.

That is a beautiful knife, especially nice that it was in your family.

Thanks Ike. It is a dear keepsake. John

WOOOW I have never seen a knife with a cleaver , very nice

Thanks, glad you like it!

Ridgegrass wrote: ↑Thu May 30, 2024 6:49 pm Here's an OLCUT (Union Cut.) with the hatchet. It's a big, heavy knife with that "good", KA-BAR celluloid in the handles. It must be a stable formula because it shows very minimal shrinkage and no lifting at all after 80 some years. It was my great-uncle's. George Szczech (Sash), who died at 90 in 1980. He kept it with his tools on his work-bench, right next to the furnace. J.O'.

Very nice!

I posted this on an earlier thread:

“I don’t know who all manufactured knives for Paris Bead, but if my memory serves me correctly and it often does not these days, they were a company that dealt in advertising items, kind of like Whitehead & Hoag of New Jersey, but of lesser quality.

I’ve heard Paris Bead Knives referred to as “ Carnival Knives” as they were allegedly often used as prizes at fairs and carnivals, i.e, the ring toss game. Ring the knife stuck up in a board and you win it.

Colonial is a good choice as maker and possibly Imperial.”

I’m pretty sure the carnival knife idea came from Bernie Levine, either in his book or in his “WHUT-IZZIT” column in the old KnifeWorld Magazine.