All About Pocket Knives

Bonfire bob wrote:Well folks, it looks like AAPK needs a Colonial Knife Company expert. Here I am!!
My name is Robert A Paolantonio. I am the only second or third generation cutler for that matter. I currently have a book for sale named "My Family Business", and my blog is
myfamilybusinessbook.com. I am also known by my personal custom line R.A.P. Cutler, that I established many years before Colonial went out of business after the year 2000. I spent over 40 years in the old factory of Colonial, and working in every department over the years was an incredible experience. It also makes me the most informative, experienced Colonial family owner alive.
This three blade stockman was one of my personal knives that I made at Colonial over 25 years ago. I used my companys parts but developed my own tang stamp years ago!!
The knife is actually a #530 Old Cutler customized by me. I made many of these knifes in multiple colored bone, stag, wood, Mother Of Pearl, and even scrimshawed Mammoth Ivory.
My book is an incredible story begining with my grandfather Frederick arriving in this country in 1903 and working very hard untill he incorporated Colonial with his brothers in 1926.

Hello and welcom.I have read your blog often and would love to find a place to buy your book.Can that be done on your blog to.If so I could not find the info.If you could post the info on this forum I would appreciate it a lot.Glad to have you aboard.I have bin a big fan of your knives since I was a kid.

Hey how you doin Bobby?--Recieved my copy of your book yesterday I'm taking it with me this morning on a trip to Missouri and plan on checkin it out while hangin out out the motel. Welcome to AAPK!!

Welcome to AAPK.

We're glad to have you join us.

Bonfire bob wrote:Well folks, it looks like AAPK needs a Colonial Knife Company expert. Here I am!!
My name is Robert A Paolantonio. I am the only second or third generation cutler for that matter. I currently have a book for sale named "My Family Business", and my blog is
myfamilybusinessbook.com. I am also known by my personal custom line R.A.P. Cutler, that I established many years before Colonial went out of business after the year 2000. I spent over 40 years in the old factory of Colonial, and working in every department over the years was an incredible experience. It also makes me the most informative, experienced Colonial family owner alive.
This three blade stockman was one of my personal knives that I made at Colonial over 25 years ago. I used my companys parts but developed my own tang stamp years ago!!
The knife is actually a #530 Old Cutler customized by me. I made many of these knifes in multiple colored bone, stag, wood, Mother Of Pearl, and even scrimshawed Mammoth Ivory.
My book is an incredible story begining with my grandfather Frederick arriving in this country in 1903 and working very hard untill he incorporated Colonial with his brothers in 1926.

Hey Bobby! It's Scott from pocketknivesblog.com
Glad to see you finally joined us here!

Heres a Colonial I picked up at a yard sale.Nice solid knife

Great! Glad you joined us, Robert!

Gotta say THANKS for the book and other little "treasures" you sent!
I've really enjoyed the book and wish you all the best with your success.

Guys, Robert signed the COA of one of his stag handled stockmans for me!
It's the FIRST COA he has ever signed!!!

I'll get some pics posted soon.

Here's a link to Robert Paolantonio's blog:

http://myfamilybusinessbook.wordpress.com/


....... Joe

Hey Robert, welcome aboard! I'm a big fan of Colonial knives and look forward to any and all information that you would be willing to share!
This is one of my favorite old Colonials, the serpentine shape, deep blue swirl handles, solid construction, long nail pull...still snaps like a gator after all these years.... Couple of questions for ya if ya don't mind me askin....any idea on timeframe of production on this one? Also, what exactly is the handle material....celluloid? some type of hard plastic? Whatever it is, it has held up really well and shows no signs of deterioration, still vibrant colors too....
Thanks for any info, and thanks for all of the great knives you and your family have put out over the years!
Mike

snorkel wrote:Anyone know anything about the Colonial Knife Company:
http://www.colonialknifecompany.net/

The have a lockback that looks exactly like a schrade LB7 and apparently it's made in the US.

313 Mike wrote:Hey Robert, welcome aboard! I'm a big fan of Colonial knives and look forward to any and all information that you would be willing to share!
This is one of my favorite old Colonials, the serpentine shape, deep blue swirl handles, solid construction, long nail pull...still snaps like a gator after all these years.... Couple of questions for ya if ya don't mind me askin....any idea on timeframe of production on this one? Also, what exactly is the handle material....celluloid? some type of hard plastic? Whatever it is, it has held up really well and shows no signs of deterioration, still vibrant colors too....

The attachment Colonial blue swirl 005.jpg is no longer available

The attachment Colonial blue swirl 006.jpg is no longer available

Thanks for any info, and thanks for all of the great knives you and your family have put out over the years!
Mike

Hello Mike!! I am very new to this site and having a bit of trouble navigating but I'll figure it out. That pretty blue baby is made of Celluliod for sure! We used tons of thi stuff through the years because of it's pretty colors. The only problem with it was that the material was so vollitol, when you drilled it polished or ground it, it would get so hot sometimes it would "IGNITE" right in your hands!! When ever we worked the material in the assembly or finishing room, there was always a bucket of water very close by!! Seriously Mike, Celluliod is almost COMBUSTUABLE!!! That's prbably why they outlawed certain kinds of it. We actually had a cement and cinderblock shed, out in the back or middle yard of the main building where we would store it!! DANGEROUS STUFF, but pretty as hell, as you can see. I also see a straight tang stamp on the blade and that tells me this baby was made probably made late 40's-early 50's. Please feel free to follow my blog since I have written an entire book about the history of Colonial Knife Company called "My Family Business"..!! the blog is: myfamilybusinessbook.com I also have a Twitter account in the works. I am third generation cutler and probably the most knowledgable man alive with almost 40 years in the factory. I hope the info helps and any other questions feel free to ask and I'll do my best to be as acurate as possible.

WOW, very cool Joe!

Knice knife garddogg, right from your neck of da woods up dare in Maine, donchaknow.. Oh yessum, by geezum!

Hey Bob

If you stop by and see this maybe you can give me an idea of when it was made I am guessing 50's. It was my grandfathers and I rescaled it with worm grooved bone a while back. It's also posted several pages back in this thread, sorry for the repost everyone, this knife is sentimental and I would like to date it as my Grandad is no longer around to ask when he purchased it.

Main blade= Colonial over Prov. R.I. over Pat.Pend.
Secondary= USA

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!
Mike

Knice 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...?
Mike

WOW, never seen those before. Very kool!

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....

Mike

Wow Mike, you have been on a Colonial roll lately - nice acquisitions!

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....
Mike

This mini fish knife just arrived today:

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

Great old Colonial catalog. Probably 1950's or 60's.

I know......I saw that

Cub Hunter Stag!!!

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...
Mike

Knice Mike!

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.

Don't know that there is one Cutty. I haven't seen it yet.....