Great Uncles penknife? - The Firearms Forum

Texman · 05-08-2010, 07:07 AM

Was helping mother clean out some stuff from the ole homestead the other day and came across this penknife . She told me her Uncle had given it to her many years before. I of course brought it home
Knife is 5 15/16 over all, each blade is 1 1/2,
Says on the blade
Stainless
Colonial
PROV. USA

As good a picture as I can do.

The ring on the end appears to be brass it home and wiped it off. Any ideas about it? not interested in selling, would just like to know.

Alpo · 05-08-2010, 09:19 AM

Don't know about that knife, but found this:

>Brands You Trust: Colonial Knife Company

Colonial Knife Company got its start in 1919 when it's founder, Antonio Paolantonio returned from WWI after serving with the United States Calvary as a Black Smith. Antonio began making knives at 9 Calendar Street in Providence, Rhode Island. Antonio called his new company the "A. Paolantonio Cutlery Company." Antonio's first customers were the jewelry industry. Antonio made knife skeletons and sold the skeletons to the jewelry industry where they would place exotic handles on the knives and re-sell the finished knives to high end men's clothing stores. Over the years the business grew and in 1926 Antonio changed the company name to Colonial Knife Company, Inc.

World War II broke out and Antonio was asked to serve on the War Production Board in Washington, D.C. where he oversaw the allocation of steel to the cutlery industry and research that lead to the only combat knife to use polymers (plastics) for knife handles that offered Navy corpsman and medics the ability to boil the knife to make it sterile.

Over the next 40 years Colonial Knife grew adding over 150 product lines and during the 1960's enjoyed the reputation as the world's largest knife manufacturer.

During the 1970's and into the 1980's Colonial produced collector knives for Smith & Wesson, Colt, Winchester, and the "John Russell Barlow" knives for Russell Harrington Company (Dexter Russell) the "Colonel Coon" knife line along with producing knives for a number of knife manufacturers under private label.

Colonial's current brands include such names as Ranger,Colonial-Prov.USA, Old Cutler, Anvil Brand, Coyote, Master Series, Swiss Master, BackCountry, Solder Tec, Hurricane, GSA government Knives, auto knives, Hand Crafted Series and Barlow.<

armedandsafe · 05-08-2010, 07:05 PM

I have owned a couple of Colonials in the past. They were pretty good knives, but I usually would carry one of my Dad's worn down Cases. He was printer and sharpened his knives often. By the time he passed one down to me it was usually a single blade.

Pops

05-08-2010, 07:07 AM	#1
Texman V.I.P. Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 362	Great Uncles penknife? Was helping mother clean out some stuff from the ole homestead the other day and came across this penknife . She told me her Uncle had given it to her many years before. I of course brought it home Knife is 5 15/16 over all, each blade is 1 1/2, Says on the blade Stainless Colonial PROV. USA As good a picture as I can do. The ring on the end appears to be brass it home and wiped it off. Any ideas about it? not interested in selling, would just like to know. --> Last edited by Texman; 05-08-2010 at 08:30 AM..

05-08-2010, 09:19 AM	#2
Alpo Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: NW Florida Posts: 8,648	Re: Great Uncles penknife? Don't know about that knife, but found this: >Brands You Trust: Colonial Knife Company Colonial Knife Company got its start in 1919 when it's founder, Antonio Paolantonio returned from WWI after serving with the United States Calvary as a Black Smith. Antonio began making knives at 9 Calendar Street in Providence, Rhode Island. Antonio called his new company the "A. Paolantonio Cutlery Company." Antonio's first customers were the jewelry industry. Antonio made knife skeletons and sold the skeletons to the jewelry industry where they would place exotic handles on the knives and re-sell the finished knives to high end men's clothing stores. Over the years the business grew and in 1926 Antonio changed the company name to Colonial Knife Company, Inc. World War II broke out and Antonio was asked to serve on the War Production Board in Washington, D.C. where he oversaw the allocation of steel to the cutlery industry and research that lead to the only combat knife to use polymers (plastics) for knife handles that offered Navy corpsman and medics the ability to boil the knife to make it sterile. Over the next 40 years Colonial Knife grew adding over 150 product lines and during the 1960's enjoyed the reputation as the world's largest knife manufacturer. During the 1970's and into the 1980's Colonial produced collector knives for Smith & Wesson, Colt, Winchester, and the "John Russell Barlow" knives for Russell Harrington Company (Dexter Russell) the "Colonel Coon" knife line along with producing knives for a number of knife manufacturers under private label. Colonial's current brands include such names as Ranger,Colonial-Prov.USA, Old Cutler, Anvil Brand, Coyote, Master Series, Swiss Master, BackCountry, Solder Tec, Hurricane, GSA government Knives, auto knives, Hand Crafted Series and Barlow.< __________________ Meddle not in the affairs of dragons, for thou art crunchy, and taste good with catsup - George of Lod, Year of Our Lord 297 I always take precautions. Beware the Evil Bullet Fairies.

05-08-2010, 07:05 PM	#3
armedandsafe Former Guest Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Moses Lake, WA Posts: 10,344	Re: Great Uncles penknife? I have owned a couple of Colonials in the past. They were pretty good knives, but I usually would carry one of my Dad's worn down Cases. He was printer and sharpened his knives often. By the time he passed one down to me it was usually a single blade. Pops