Colonial knife company?

Colonial Knife was incorporated in 1926 by three brothers; Antonio, Domenic, & Fredrick Paolantonio. It grew to become one of the largest pocket knife manufacturers in the US during the 1960s. The company shut down in 1998, but was back into production under the Colonial Cutlery International Corporation in 2001. Colonial Cutlery International, Inc. brand is the imported line of knives and tools while the U.S.A.- made products fall under the Colonial Knife brand.
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313 Mike
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Re: Colonial knife company?

Post by 313 Mike »

Here's an old Colonial with the curved tang stamp....if ya double click the pic you can see it better...I believe this stamp dates it from between 1926--38...? The handle scales are alot like I have on an old Utica and another old Iroquois knife. I like the looks of that curved Colonial stamping, this is the only one I have with that stamp!
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Re: Colonial knife company?

Post by TripleF »

Knice Mike! ::tu::
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Colonial Knife Company History ebook:
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Re: Colonial knife company?

Post by 313 Mike »

Here's a pair of Colonial lockbacks, both measure in at 4 " closed and lock up solid as Sears....no idea when these were produced though. Cool old knives both. Anyone know of any other colors...?
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Blac & Yellow Colonial Lockbacks 004.jpg
Blac & Yellow Colonial Lockbacks 001.jpg
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Re: Colonial knife company?

Post by TripleF »

WOW, never seen those before. Very kool!
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Re: Colonial knife company?

Post by 313 Mike »

Thanks Scott! I've only ever seen the black and the yellow ones, not sure if they made any other colors. Perhaps if the good Mr RAP is still stopping by here occasionally he could shed some light on these cool old lockbacks....

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Re: Colonial knife company?

Post by Old Hunter »

Wow Mike, you have been on a Colonial roll lately - nice acquisitions!
Deep in the guts of most men is buried the involuntary response to the hunter's horn, a prickle of the nape hairs, an acceleration of the pulse, an atavistic memory of his fathers, who killed first with stone, and then with club...Robert Ruark
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Re: Colonial knife company?

Post by 313 Mike »

Yes OH,you are correct, I've been lucky enough to pick up some sweet ol' Colonials lately! I've even been able to gift some to family members, and they've been very much appreciated. Nice thing about the Colonials is they can usually be had for pretty cheap, so pickin' up some new knives doesn't have to break the bank....
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Re: Colonial knife company?

Post by TripleF »

This mini fish knife just arrived today:
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https://gumroad.com/l/ZLDb
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Re: Colonial knife company?

Post by knifeaholic »

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-COLONIA ... 327wt_1045

Great old Colonial catalog. Probably 1950's or 60's.
Steve Pfeiffer, author of Collecting Case Knives: Identification and Price Guide published by Krause Publications.
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Re: Colonial knife company?

Post by TripleF »

I know......I saw that :shock: :shock: ::drool:: ::drool::
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Re: Colonial knife company?

Post by TripleF »

Cub Hunter Stag!!!
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Colonial USA Cub Hunter Fixed Blade Knife 001 - Copy.JPG
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Re: Colonial knife company?

Post by 313 Mike »

I picked up these two Colonial advertising knives, the orange one caught my eye and the white one came along for the ride. Not sure of the time frame, but the phone number on the orange one doesn't have an area code or first three numbers so that should be a clue perhaps...? The orange one is advertising an auto parts buisness, and the white one is advertising some sort of financial services buisness out of Boston. Makes sense that they are both east coast buisness' since Colonial is from Prov RI. They were both lookin' kinda rough when I got them in, but I cleaned 'em up a tad and this is what I've got. I thought they were kinda cool anyways...
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Colonial Ad knives 001.jpg
Colonial Ad knives 002.jpg
Colonial Ad knives 003.jpg
Colonial Ad knives 005.jpg
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Re: Colonial knife company?

Post by TripleF »

Knice Mike! ::tu::
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Colonial Knife Company History ebook:
https://gumroad.com/l/ZLDb
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Re: Colonial knife company?

Post by Cutty »

Does anyone have a listing of Colonial tang stamps for general dating purposes. I have yet to pony up an buy a copy of Goins book. If not is there a resource on here (haven't seen one) or somewhere else on the web?

I have a few and have been looking at others on the bay because they are relatively cheap and have good steel and can be cleaned/carried without really affecting the value IMO. :)
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Re: Colonial knife company?

Post by TripleF »

Don't know that there is one Cutty. I haven't seen it yet.....
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Re: Colonial knife company?

Post by Cutty »

Thanks Scott ::tu::

I handn't seen/heard anything either.
I dig half stops!!



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Re: Colonial knife company?

Post by 313 Mike »

I'm no expert, but from my understanding there is no reliable way to date Colonials by tang stamp, they've used a wide variety over the years, some of them having no stamp at all, some just USA....I have heard however that the stamp with the curved COLONIAL over PROVIDENCE R.I. dates from '26--'36. I only have one example of that stamp, which I just took a pic of with the intention of posting here...but for some reason the site (or my computer) is not allowing me to post pics at the moment. I'll try to post it up later..

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Re: Colonial knife company?

Post by 313 Mike »

Here's that curved Colonial stamp I was referring to in my above post...
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Colonial curved tang stamp  '26--'38 002.jpg
Colonial curved tang stamp  '26--'38 003.jpg
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Re: Colonial knife company?

Post by Joe Dirt »

Here ya go folks. This is from Mr. John Goins` Encyclopedia. One HECK OF A LOT of work went into making this book.
I can't even imagine the amount of leg work this man compiled into one book. God rest his soul.

If ya don't have it... GET IT!!! It is the first book I turn to for ANY information on knives.

Colonial knives are very hard to date - unlike Imperial. For the most part they only used 2 stamps; the arched one and the straight one.
Most of the images at the bottom were either stamped on the blade or printed on the card they were sold on.

..... Joe
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Colonial Knife Co. from Mr. Goins` book.jpg
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Re: Colonial knife company?

Post by Cutty »

Thanks for the info Joe
::tu::
I dig half stops!!



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Re: Colonial knife company?

Post by Joe Dirt »

Thought I'd show off a couple of displays I've picked up this year.
Just recently finished the wood display with the correct knives that are shown on the back of the box.
The card - I found FULL... with it's origional shipping box and protective paper that covered the clear plastic!! :D

...... Joe
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Colonial Displays  001.JPG
Early '70s CY-100 assortment
Early '70s CY-100 assortment
NOS all the way to the box it was shipped in and the paper that protected the clear plastic while in the box!
NOS all the way to the box it was shipped in and the paper that protected the clear plastic while in the box!
I've got a camouflage knife, but I can't find it.......

..... cardboard addicted.....

"The old timer's concentrated on making knives; not keeping records!!" ~ Bonfire bob
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Re: Colonial knife company?

Post by Old Hunter »

Joe, nice displays, really nice. OH
Deep in the guts of most men is buried the involuntary response to the hunter's horn, a prickle of the nape hairs, an acceleration of the pulse, an atavistic memory of his fathers, who killed first with stone, and then with club...Robert Ruark
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Re: Colonial knife company?

Post by 313 Mike »

Reaaly cool displays Joe! I love the old artwork too....the "outdoorsman" in the calf high boots and tucked in flannel giddily stirring his pot of beans while waving to his buddy just offshore in the canoe...ahhhh...the good ol' days! Can't believe you found that full in the original shipping box, what a find! I bet your eyes just lit up when you stumbled across that one. Was it a flea market find or did you get it on line...? just curious. The wooden one is really nice too, looks quite solid and sturdy.
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Re: Colonial knife company?

Post by singin46 »

Joe Dirt wrote:Thought I'd show off a couple of displays I've picked up this year.
Just recently finished the wood display with the correct knives that are shown on the back of the box.
The card - I found FULL... with it's origional shipping box and protective paper that covered the clear plastic!! :D

...... Joe
That is nothing short of amazing Joe!! ::ds:: How in the world did you ever find all the correct knives for this case?? ::tu:: ::tu:: ::tu:: ::tu::
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Re: Colonial knife company?

Post by singin46 »

Mike has already seen these but I thought I would put them in here.
Brown bolstered and yellow Lockbacks. I would also like to know what other colors were made. So far there's black, brown and yellow found in the Lockbacks, are there any other variations??
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