I bought this knife today at a pawn and gunshop. The owner bought this knife in a collection of guns and knives he recently acquired, it had no box or package with it, but is absolutely mint and looks to be of recent manufacture. It is a 3" jack-knife with both blades marked:
STAINLESS
COLONIAL
PROV. USA
The bow-tie shield is marked "STAINLESS"; the blades, bolsters, and shield are highly polished, fit is excellent and snap is perfect. I am amazed at the quality of this relatively inexpensive knife - I was obviously smitten by the knife and bought it on the spot. I wouldn't mind having more of them, checked out the Colonial website and can find no mention of this type of knife, pity if they are discontinued.
Does Colonial still mfg traditional shell pocketknives?
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Old Hunter
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Does Colonial still mfg traditional shell pocketknives?
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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
Re: Does Colonial still mfg traditional shell pocketknives?
If memory serves, Colonial is one of the names that Jim Frost now owns the rights to. Long story short....He has ALL of his knives made in China (or maybe Pakistan too) now and none of those old models are being produced any longer. Same goes for Schrade, Imperial, and a host of formerly good old USA made brand names.
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knifeaholic
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Re: Does Colonial still mfg traditional shell pocketknives?
No; Colonial is still very much an independent business in Rhode Island. In fact I drive by their facility on the way to a vendor that I do business with.Elvis wrote:If memory serves, Colonial is one of the names that Jim Frost now owns the rights to. Long story short....He has ALL of his knives made in China (or maybe Pakistan too) now and none of those old models are being produced any longer. Same goes for Schrade, Imperial, and a host of formerly good old USA made brand names.
As far as what they actually make these days, they do have a website that shows their products. Or at least they did. There was an article about Colonial in BLADE a year or two ago, IIRC the article stated that Colonial only has four employees....so they can't be manufacturing much.
Steve Pfeiffer, author of Collecting Case Knives: Identification and Price Guide published by Krause Publications.
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Iron Hoarder
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Re: Does Colonial still mfg traditional shell pocketknives?
knifeaholic wrote:No; Colonial is still very much an independent business in Rhode Island. In fact I drive by their facility on the way to a vendor that I do business with.Elvis wrote:If memory serves, Colonial is one of the names that Jim Frost now owns the rights to. Long story short....He has ALL of his knives made in China (or maybe Pakistan too) now and none of those old models are being produced any longer. Same goes for Schrade, Imperial, and a host of formerly good old USA made brand names.
As far as what they actually make these days, they do have a website that shows their products. Or at least they did. There was an article about Colonial in BLADE a year or two ago, IIRC the article stated that Colonial only has four employees....so they can't be manufacturing much.
Maybe you should stop by sometime and knock on the door to see what they are still making and find out if they have any old stuff laying around they don't mind parting with.
I measure my collection by the ton.
Whoever dies with the most tools wins......Now accepting donations.
Whoever dies with the most tools wins......Now accepting donations.
Re: Does Colonial still mfg traditional shell pocketknives?
My understanding is that they are still making a couple of "tactical" style auto-openers for EMT and police in the U.S. and that they have a rigger and maybe a couple other "traditional" ones made in Asia
http://www.knifecenter.com/kc_new/store ... datarq=130
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http://www.knifecenter.com/kc_new/store ... datarq=130
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Re: Does Colonial still mfg traditional shell pocketknives?
You have no idea how glad I am to be wrong about this one. A US knife company that Jim Frost HASN'T bought the rights to and taken off-shore. These days, it's easier to count the ones he hasn't done that to. I'm not real sure just what they can do with only 4 employees, but one can only hope they found a way to keep production in the USA.knifeaholic wrote:No; Colonial is still very much an independent business in Rhode Island. In fact I drive by their facility on the way to a vendor that I do business with.
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1967redrider
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Re: Does Colonial still mfg traditional shell pocketknives?
No harm in asking, right?Iron Hoarder wrote:Maybe you should stop by sometime and knock on the door to see what they are still making and find out if they have any old stuff laying around they don't mind parting with.knifeaholic wrote:No; Colonial is still very much an independent business in Rhode Island. In fact I drive by their facility on the way to a vendor that I do business with.Elvis wrote:If memory serves, Colonial is one of the names that Jim Frost now owns the rights to. Long story short....He has ALL of his knives made in China (or maybe Pakistan too) now and none of those old models are being produced any longer. Same goes for Schrade, Imperial, and a host of formerly good old USA made brand names.
As far as what they actually make these days, they do have a website that shows their products. Or at least they did. There was an article about Colonial in BLADE a year or two ago, IIRC the article stated that Colonial only has four employees....so they can't be manufacturing much.
Pocket, fixed, machete, axe, it's all good!
You're going to look awfully silly with that knife sticking out of your @#$. -Clint Eastwood, High Plains Drifter
You're going to look awfully silly with that knife sticking out of your @#$. -Clint Eastwood, High Plains Drifter
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knifeaholic
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Re: Does Colonial still mfg traditional shell pocketknives?
Elvis wrote:You have no idea how glad I am to be wrong about this one. A US knife company that Jim Frost HASN'T bought the rights to and taken off-shore. These days, it's easier to count the ones he hasn't done that to. I'm not real sure just what they can do with only 4 employees, but one can only hope they found a way to keep production in the USA.knifeaholic wrote:No; Colonial is still very much an independent business in Rhode Island. In fact I drive by their facility on the way to a vendor that I do business with.
Which US knife companies has Jim Frost bought the rights to and taken off shore? I cannot think of any (and I am being serious).
Steve Pfeiffer, author of Collecting Case Knives: Identification and Price Guide published by Krause Publications.
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Bonfire bob
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Re: Does Colonial still mfg traditional shell pocketknives?
Hey folks! I see this is an old thread with old questions about Colonial Knife Company.
For the folks who don't know by now, my name is Robert A. Paolantonio, third generation owner, and cutler. There are several questions here and if any of you still need answers, please mail me at : bonfirebob11@cox.net or just go to our current forums like Colonial Knife Company Collectors or the show-em thread. I will be personally happy to answer any questions you may have...
Bobby P., CKCo....
For the folks who don't know by now, my name is Robert A. Paolantonio, third generation owner, and cutler. There are several questions here and if any of you still need answers, please mail me at : bonfirebob11@cox.net or just go to our current forums like Colonial Knife Company Collectors or the show-em thread. I will be personally happy to answer any questions you may have...
Bobby P., CKCo....
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Bonfire bob
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Re: Does Colonial still mfg traditional shell pocketknives?
Gentlemen, I see these questions were asked recently and much longer back.
For the record Old Hunter, this old shell knife is a # DC-610 jack knife. We made this model and many others like it from the 60's to the early 90's! The old Colonial Knife is officially "OUT OF BUSINESS" ! There are a couple previous family members that have started Colonial Knife Corporation. As far as I know they deal primarily with a nice line of imported tactical knives and tools.
If you ever need any informatio about the old business you can contact myself, Robert Paolantonio, past owner and cutler of the original family business. I have also recently writtten a book called "My family business", Colonial Knife Company, and you can find more info about the book on one of the several Colonial threads here at AAPK.
You can also get plenty of information on my blog : myfamilybusinessbook.wordpress.com
Thanks Bobby Paolantonio, CKCo....
For the record Old Hunter, this old shell knife is a # DC-610 jack knife. We made this model and many others like it from the 60's to the early 90's! The old Colonial Knife is officially "OUT OF BUSINESS" ! There are a couple previous family members that have started Colonial Knife Corporation. As far as I know they deal primarily with a nice line of imported tactical knives and tools.
If you ever need any informatio about the old business you can contact myself, Robert Paolantonio, past owner and cutler of the original family business. I have also recently writtten a book called "My family business", Colonial Knife Company, and you can find more info about the book on one of the several Colonial threads here at AAPK.
You can also get plenty of information on my blog : myfamilybusinessbook.wordpress.com
Thanks Bobby Paolantonio, CKCo....