Colonial Knife Company

Colonial knives and the several trade names used on them has been a mainstay in the American cutlery industry since the company’s beginning in 1926. Names such a Forest Master, Topper, Ranger, Old Cutler, and Snappy are but a few that may be recalled from collector’s memories.

The families that founded and still own Colonial was experienced in cutlery manufacture prior to establishment of their Providence, Rhode Island, company. Frederick Paolantonio, the founder of Colonial, was first trained in the cutler’s art in his hometown of Ftosolone, Italy. He arrived in the United States in 1903, worked briefly in a Rhode Island cutlery shop, and then went to work for Empire Knife Company, where he remained for five years.

He next went to work for Miller Brothers Cutlery Company and became production foreman there in 1914. While there, he met Edward Oefinger, and together they started their own company named Meridian to make skeleton knives for Miller Brothers. (These knives were not stamped “Meridian” and should not be confused with the older Meridian Cutlery Company knives). In 1920, they started P & S Cutlery Company in Meridian, Connecticut, but sold it the following year to Imperial, a company also started by former Empire employees. Paolantonio’s brothers, Dominick and Anthony, had immigrated in 1910 and worked for Empire until 1917. At that time they started the Providence Cutlery Company, making skeleton knives.

In 1920, Anthony formed the A. Paolantonio Cutlery Company in Providence, making gold and pearl handled knives. Dominick sold his Providence Cutlery Company in 1925 and joined Anthony in his business. By 1926, the three brothers joined together to form and organize the Colonial Knife Company. The Colonial organization had taken over the A. Paolantonio business and soon expanded the factory to manufacture a standard line of pocketknives.

Colonial’s original production knives were generally of moderate quality, usually with celluloid or other synthetic handles. However, the company had the ability to produce almost anything.

When the World War II broke out, Colonial Knife was engaged in the production of the famous Mark 1 Navy Deck Knife and the Navy Pilot Survival Knife along with a variety of military jack knives. During the, war Antonio served on the war production board in Washington D.C where he oversaw the allocation of steel to the cutlery industry.

During World War II, Colonial made Mark 1 sheath knives and “Giant” Survival Kit folding knives for the U. S. Navy: and after the collector market grew, the company was called upon to make high-grade limited edition knives for other brands, some of them with genuine bone and stag handles.

During the next 70 years Colonial Knife grew adding new products. The 1950’s inspired such brand names as the Sure Snap (auto knife) along with the Cub Hunter and Rin Tin Tin series and other well know styles of knives that would earn the Colonial brand a reputation as a boy’s first knife.

The 1970’s saw the introduction of a number of better quality brands for Colonial such as the Ranger series, Master Brand, Swiss Master, and Old Cutler series. Each of these new series helped to increase demand for the Colonial brand throughout the United States.

The 1980’s and 90’s brought a new type of business to Colonial, the private label customer. These include Smith & Wesson, Colt, Winchester, John Russell Barlow and the riders of the silver screen with such names as Tom Mix, Roy Rogers, Hop along Cassidy, Daniel Boone, Elvis Presley, commemorative knives and Ultra Blade series and the Sharp brand (K-Mart).

In 1998 Colonial Knife Company ceased operations and left the original factory site, but in 2001 the company was reorganized under the leadership of the founding brothers’ grandson. Today, Colonial Knife Company produces a range of different styles for both domestic and overseas.

In 2001, some of the employees of the former Colonial Knife started Colonial Cutlery International (CCI) and began manufacturing the M-724 auto knives and the J-316 for the military. This new interest in the Colonial brand led to additional customers such as the Boy Scouts of America, Girl Scouts of the U.S.A, Cooper Tools, Stanley Works, Ideal Industries, and the General Service Administration (G.S.A.).

In 2002, CCI registered the Colonial Knife brand as a division of Colonial Cutlery International, Inc. Today, 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.

Together, two great brands under one roof.

Sources

http://www.colonialknifecorp.com/