Colonial Knives- Made in the USA?

[GreatSyxsuke]

Hi,

I recently ordered an E2 Ranger Electrician's Knife from Colonial. It seems like a decent steel (440C) and I like the way it looks. I know back in the day Colonial was made in Rhode Island and their website indicates they still have their home office there. I cannot seem to find a definite answer that their knives are still made there though. In the company history, I saw mention of their imported knives being marketed under Colonial Cutlery Inc. and their domestics under Colonial Knife. Anyone know if I bought American?

 

[glennbad]

I know they are still in business. It's hard to tell from their website if the knife itself is made in USA, but there are a few shown that they do claim "made in the USA"

http://colonialknifecorp.com/E2Electrical.htm

 

[GreatSyxsuke]

Yeah, that's the page I saw. It looks like the knife in the pic is stamped Prov RI but the pic could be an older model. I haven't received it yet so I can't confirm any tang stamping on the one I bought.

 

[edbeau]

I do believe that some knives are made in the states but the majority are made in China. They are stamped Prov RI but that is where the head office is only. Check on Google Maps and it is only a part of a building.

 

[Old Hunter]

There is quite a bit of info concerning Colonial over on AAPK - Robert Anthony Paolantonio (Bonfire Bob), one of the last of the Colonial family members working in the Providence plant, posts answers to Colonial questions pretty frequently. He has stated that the current Colonial was never connected to the original and imports their knives. OH

 

[pertinux]

There is quite a bit of info concerning Colonial over on AAPK - Robert Anthony Paolantonio (Bonfire Bob), one of the last of the Colonial family members working in the Providence plant, posts answers to Colonial questions pretty frequently. He has stated that the current Colonial was never connected to the original and imports their knives. OH

Interesting, and helpful. Steve Paolantonio goes by colonial knives here at BF, and his answers to similar questions have not been as straightforward. For example. (From BRL's forum, but there have been similar threads here.)

Thanks!

~ P.

 

[GreatSyxsuke]

I checked out AAPK on your recommendation. You aren't kidding about the wealth of info. I'll just have to wait and see how the F&F of the E2 I ordered is, as that was the issue with the previous electrician knife I purchased. The origin country isn't a huge deal as I have a couple traditionals from PRC that fit my needs just fine.