Colonial Knife Co Providence R.I.

[herder]

"A Thing Of Beauty Is A Joy Forever "

An All Around Pocket Knife

Full Polished Keen Steel Blades

Sturdy Enough For Heavy Duty Yet An Ideal Pocket Size

The Rainbow Knife

Man's Reproduction Of Abalone Pearl

Wow is this an exciting find. I have had this rainbow knife advertisement for years, never expecting to get lucky enough to find one.

Its in great shape for a 1930's Celluloid. Not a single crack or chip in the handles.

Originally 25 Cents!

I have had this for a few weeks trying to get some great pictures. Still not happy with them but I'm going to give up for now and post it.

Spinal stenosis has really made photography challenging. I used to take most of my pictures outside in natural light. I'm trying to get used to using a shot box light box but its just not the same.

Oh well, its documenting and sharing the knives and information that is most important to me.

Great ad and very cool knife. I love the ads and graphics just about as much as the knives themselves.
Here is a "Ranger" model (Morse code on the back side) with an illustration from a Colonial catalog circa 1956.

View attachment 963916

 

[JohnDF]

Here is a "Ranger" model (Morse code on the back side) with an illustration from a Colonial catalog circa 1956.

View attachment 963916

Cool knife and graphic. I like those old novelty type knives.

 

[herder]

Cool knife and graphic. I like those old novelty type knives.

Thanks, and there seems to be no end to the possibilities of knife collecting. Man, I love this hobby.

 

[Old Hunter]

Mauser, That set of yours is really interesting - my version either came with no fork or is missing the fork (but it has a proper back handle). Were their variations of the available attachments? OH

 

[B.Mauser]

Great ad and very cool knife. I love the ads and graphics just about as much as the knives themselves.
Here is a "Ranger" model (Morse code on the back side) with an illustration from a Colonial catalog circa 1956.

View attachment 963916

Hi Herder. Thanks.

Yeah I love to find the knives that are on the old Colonial advertisements. But I have never found an actual advertisement for sale. That is so cool how you have them both. Very nice! Thanks for posting this.

I have Davy Crocket and Roy Rogers Colonials similar to yours. I want to find the Ranger knife too.

Here is my Roy Rogers knife and a picture of the card these were sold on and the advertisement for them. I also have a copy of a letter from The Rohr Company giving Colonial permission to make the knife.

I wish I had real copies of these.


My knife.

The Advertisement.

The card they were sold on.

And the letter to Al Paolantonio from the Rohr Company about this knife.

 

[B.Mauser]

Mauser, That set of yours is really interesting - my version either came with no fork or is missing the fork (but it has a proper back handle). Were their variations of the available attachments? OH

Interesting. I didn't notice that there was no fork on the back of yours.

There were variations of the sport pal. There was a 3 and 4 blade model that I know of.

The one with 4 blades had the fork on the front handle, the knife and combo can and bottle opener was the middle piece and the spoon was the back handle.

Like the picture below.

The 3 blade version had the combo can and bottle opener on the front handle, the knife blade in the middle and the fork in the back handle.

Like this picture.

I don't remember ever seeing a Sport Pal with only 2 blades. I looked through my Colonial files and can only find pictures of 3 and 4 blade sport pals. I searched the internet and can only find pictures of 3 and 4 blade Sport Pals. And your blade looks different also.


I don't think I have ever seen one like this.


Have you taken it apart? I guess your back handle has no blade in it?


I would love to see pictures of the pieces when you have time.

 

[Kbrasmodeler]

An old Colonial I got from a friend:
captureNext to a Case Peanut for size:
image uploading site

 

[Bartleby]

I ordered some today. Finally going to try this razor. Thanks Bartleby.

Have you tried it out? What did you think?

 

[B.Mauser]

An old Colonial I got from a friend:
captureNext to a Case Peanut for size:
image uploading site

Hi Kbrasmodeler. Welcome.

Knives that came from friends and family are the best.


That is a model #492. Thanks for sharing the picture.


Here are a couple 492's I have.

The black one is stainless. I got the white one in a group of knives I bought online to get a different Colonial. It came with a broken tip so I gave it kind a wharncliff tip and made it a user. Its very useful.

 

[Kbrasmodeler]

Hi Kbrasmodeler. Welcome.

Knives that came from friends and family are the best.


That is a model #492. Thanks for sharing the picture.


Here are a couple 492's I have.

The black one is stainless. I got the white one in a group of knives I bought online to get a different Colonial. It came with a broken tip so I gave it kind a wharncliff tip and made it a user. Its very useful.

Thanks for the info. It's interesting to see the small differences in your knives side by side. For example, the nail nicks in the white one seem larger and deeper than the black one. I wonder if they are different manufacturing years, or just normal variation.

Thanks for the kind words!

Ken

 

[B.Mauser]

Have you tried it out? What did you think?

I used it yesterday. Wow that is sharp. It really mowed down the longer stubble that I would have to go over and over with my regular razor.

It was very cool to finally use my grandfathers razor after wanting to for all these years but my Gillette Mach 3 isn't going anywhere.

Thanks again Bartleby.

Here it is with some of my favorite Colonials.

 

[Bartleby]

I used it yesterday. Wow that is sharp. It really mowed down the longer stubble that I would have to go over and over with my regular razor.

It was very cool to finally use my grandfathers razor after wanting to for all these years but my Gillette Mach 3 isn't going anywhere.

Thanks again Bartleby.

You are most welcome! They are remarkably efficient and cost effective to boot. Even better to have the chance to use an object your grandfather also had and used daily.

 

[Misplaced Hillbilly]

Bump I got this Colonial advertising knife awhile back. Great walk'n'talk,nice and slim in the pocket.I'll have to round up my Colonial knives for a group photo, I only have a few but I think I should add them to this great thread.

 

[B.Mauser]

Bump I got this Colonial advertising knife awhile back. Great walk'n'talk,nice and slim in the pocket.I'll have to round up my Colonial knives for a group photo, I only have a few but I think I should add them to this great thread.

Hi Misplaced Hillbilly. Great to have you here.

Thanks for the picture.

I love the advertising knives. Dole was one of Colonials biggest customers.

Your knife is a Colonial Ranger model #931.

You should definitely post your other Colonials.

 

[screened porch]

Bump I got this Colonial advertising knife awhile back. Great walk'n'talk,nice and slim in the pocket.I'll have to round up my Colonial knives for a group photo, I only have a few but I think I should add them to this great thread.

Very cool single-blader.

 

[Old Biker]

I had several colonials arrive in the mail today. This first one is kind of interesting. At least I haven't seen anything like it before. A single blade shell construction knife, with a five piece set of tools that can be snapped onto the other end of the handle.

The knife set is in pretty good shape. My guess is it has never been used.

O.B.

 

[screened porch]

^Very cool. I have a similar tool knife, but it's not a Colonial.

 

[B.Mauser]

I had several colonials arrive in the mail today. This first one is kind of interesting. At least I haven't seen anything like it before. A single blade shell construction knife, with a five piece set of tools that can be snapped onto the other end of the handle.

The knife set is in pretty good shape. My guess is it has never been used.

O.B.

Hi Old Biker. Very cool Colonial! That is a rare one for sure.
I have seen a couple of these in the past but never one in such great condition.

This is Colonials pocket tool kit.

The extra tools are a combination can opener and cap lifter.
A fish scaler and hook remover with bottle opener. A screwdriver, an awl and a wood chisel.


Thanks for sharing the pictures with us. I enjoyed seeing this.

 

[B.Mauser]

^Very cool. I have a similar tool knife, but it's not a Colonial.

Do you have the Utica toolkit? That is a neat one.

 

[Old Biker]

I also got this electricians knife. It's in pretty good shape, but is/was super dull. It also had some monster of a key ring instead of a bail.

I cut the key ring off. I may make a bail for it later, and then I may not. Then I sharpened it, washed it and lubed it.

O.B.