Colonial Switchblade...

[Jazzman]

For my birthday, my grandfather passed me an old Colonial switchblade which he found at an estate sale. It has a roughly 3.25in weehawk style blade with the stamp: "Shur-Snap, Colonial". The scales are black jigged delrin or celluloid and it has thin stamped bolsters. The handle has a recessed slide safety and mechanically the knife works well. I know that without pics, my description is pretty useless but does anyone know if Colonials are desirable? How does one care for a vintage auto (keeping the mechanism in working order).
Thanks,
Matt

 

[bob bowie]

Your 40's Colonial Shur-Snap Fishtail Jack(it has a U shaped back bolster like a fish tail, right?) has black celluloid scales.

I don't collect switches, but the Colonial's are collectable, just not a high dollar knife. Around $50.

Keep the knife in the open position to reduce pressure on the spring, and oil it.

 

[Jazzman]

Bob,
Right on the money! Thanks for the great info. It's one neat little knife, I was wondering about the crescent shaped tail!
Thanks again,
Matt

 

[colonial knives]

i'VE SOLD COLONIAL SWITHCBLADEs AT THE BLADE SHOW FOR AS MUCH AS $300. THE GUIDE TO ANTIQUE SWITHBLADES SHOWS THE VALUE THE OF Colonal knife swithcblade "Vintage" anywhere between $125.00 to $500.
beauty is in the eye of the beholder-my friend gave me his surfboard- a vintage "Gordon Smith" while waiting for the chance to catch some waves- this older surfer came up to me and said "don;'t let anyone tell you that board isn't worth anything" and I pass this advice on to you- "don't let anyone tell you your vintage Colonial American made knife- switchblade isn't worth anything. Check out Mark Ericson guide to automatics and switchblades-
Steve Paolantonio
Steve Paolantonio

 

[LeatherMan64]

Look like dis? not my pic

 

[puukkoman]

Zombie thread, back from the dead!

BUT THANK YOU FOR THE INFO IT IS VERY INTERESTING AND I ALSO LIKE VINTAGE COLONIAL AMERICAN MADE SWITCHBLADES BECAUSE THEY ARE NEAT AND I ALSO THINK THEY ARE DESIRABLE BUT I HAVE NOT ADDED ONE TO MY COLLECTION YET BECAUSE THEY ARE ALWAYS TOO EXPENSIVE AND USUALLY BROKEN.

 

[Peregrin]

Oh boy this is an oldie. I'm going to close this. I'll bet Jazzman found out what he needed to know by now.