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.
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..
Mike
Mike
There are those who are...and those who wish they were. He himself decides.
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
Attachments
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
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!!
...... Joe
Attachments
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!
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
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
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.
Mike
Mike
There are those who are...and those who wish they were. He himself decides.
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!!
...... Joe
That is nothing short of amazing Joe!! How in the world did you ever find all the correct knives for this case??
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??
They made it kinda easy by putting a large label on the back
of the display! haha!
I have to make a correction for my earlier post (first time I've EVER been incorrect )
The green handle knife should be stag like the rest. I DO have the right knife in the display now.
...... Joe
Attachments
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
Only got one colonial,it's a large stockman scrimshaw edition , has a patent on sort blade? It's a well made knife,I've no clue to it's age, late 80's early 90's? It had badly chrome plated bolsters and was flacky so I removed it and polished and have them a brushed Finnish to match the blades, really like this knife,I went on a search for history and if course I ended up on AAPK you guys are awesome
Paul,
friendship is a rare and precious gift,
A day without a pocket knife is the day your need it,