Colt Serpentine Whittler

Absintheur

Absintheur

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Jan 31, 2008
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Picked this one up off of Ebay...I was watching an auction on a Fight'n Rooster I wanted and this caught my eye with just a few seconds left to go on it. I bid the minimum (about 10 bucks w/free shipping) and I won it. I paid and got ready for the wait. Well today the mailman dropped it off and I am impressed enough to do a review. First off this is what it looks like...

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Came in a really nice box as well. Now I know the quality of the box has nothing to do with the knife but if I were going to give this as a gift it is a nice touch, the box fits well, holds closed with a magnet built into the flap, and came with a small wipe down cloth.

Fit and finish is above what I expected, a split spring whittler is a tough pattern to fit well but this was very nicely done, Liners are brass and it just fit together very nicely. I also have to say I would love to see some American companies doing bone jigging this nicely as well. All three blades were swedged on both sides...something that isn't always done and the swedge grind lines are near perfect. I also really like the pinched bolsters, they add "age" to a new knife.

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The blade proportions are well sized to the knife and the blades themselves are centered extremely well without any blade rubbing...again tough in a split spring. Pull on the main is about a 7 with a very well defined half stop. The 2 pen blades are about a 4 as they are working off just half the spring but also have very definitive half stops...this knife walks and talks very well.

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All three blades have the Colt stamp and the back of the main is etched with model and country of origin. The steel is reportedly 420 J2. All three blades had very good grind lines and a quick touch up on my Spyderco Tri-Angle with the white stones followed by a light stropping made them hair popping sharp.

colt7copy.jpg


There were a couple flaws...one pin was left a little high with a sharp edge, a dremel cured that in a couple seconds. The main had a couple light scratches that disappeared with a little Flitz. The big stylized C on the bolster is actually starting to grow on me...lol.

This knife retails for $22.95, you can find them in online stores for $15-$16 and you can luck out on Ebay and get a 10 buck deal. I am glad I bought this Colt...it is a very handsome knife and is sure to get it's sure of pocket time.
 
That really is a nice looking knife, I love slant bolsters. It looks like it is built like a tank with some very nice bone. Great snag a $10.00
 
I'd been looking at the Colts and wondering how good they were. It sounds like they are well built. Thanks for the review.
 
I don't care for the looks of the current crop of black stag colts but this amber/honey toasted bone I like. I like the round Colt shield better as well...here is the same pattern but in the black stag bone...

As you can see in the pic, the bone on mine is nicely thick as well.

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Showed it off at the pancake dinner at church tonite, was admired and most didn't realize the country of origin...all were impressed with the looks, quality, and the price.
 
They are great looking knives, except for that C on the bolster. Well, not even so much the C, but how it interrupts the threading of the bolster. If they cleaned that up and used carbon steel, I'd own every pattern they make. Their little dog-leg teardrop jack is a really nice pattern too. Some of the best looking bone around.
 
Hi,

I've been looking at them too. But like Black Mamba, I just can't get past the "C" on the bolster. If they would drop that, I'd buy them. Everybody I've heard from who has bought one are pretty impressed with the fit and finish.

dalee
 
I have the same knife as well as several others from Colt. That one was larger than I expected. Very nice knife! Funny thing, I saw one at a gun show last weekend with an $85 price tag... Same box and all. I just laughed to myself and kept going. Unfortunately, I wouldn't be surprised to see someone who is not familiar with knives buy it for that price.
 
As I said the big C was a sour point with me at first but with the knife in hand it is starting to grow on me much like the S&M on some of the Schatt and Morgan knives. The antiqued rampant Colt pony on the shield is nicely done as well. Wish Canal Street would use the same type finish on their CS shield. At any rate this one will be in my pocket today and hopefully will get some use.

While I am not a "set" collector other than my Cold Steel Classics I am considering buying a few more of these in various patterns...an inexpensive way to try patterns I don't own any of.
 
Bone looks very nicely done, I like slanted bolsters but that C....not sure if it would grow on me.The main blade is unusual looking,very good pix and review thank you.I've been happy with my RR Old Yellow split back Whittler.A tricky backspring but done well at a price you can't ignore.
 
I've got the single blade gunstock in the same bone handle as your congress. I ordered it after asking for opinions here. I must say that i too was impressed with the knife. The inlayed medallion fell out after a couple of days, so i took the opportunity to sand and buff the scales resulting in more of a "pocket worn" finish. Just that simple process improved the look alot to me. To finish the job i super glued the medallion back in place. I've edc since receiving it.
 
Yep, these Colt folders are very nice in every way, and so inexpensive you can get quite a few without breaking the bank.

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if you don't like the "C" in the bolsters, RR makes quite a few very similar knives as these 3 show:

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and here's a new line from "Colt" with titanium coated blades. looking forward to trying this 5 1/4" F.H. with black smooth bone this Fall.

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roland
 
I just noticed that your Colt single blade gunstock has what appears to be an inlay bear paw. Mine came without that detail,did you add that?
 
One interesting difference between the Colt and the RR brands is the style of jigging of the bone. RR's have a standard type while the Colt went for the stag look, this stag look is what really caught my eye. I do want to pick up one of the Colt peanuts next. The really hit several of my buttons with it, tear drop bolster, spear point main, nice swedges of course.

One other nice thing about the pricing of these, I can easily see myself gifting these to non knife folks as an introduction without going broke while still giving a good quality knife with great looks. I have gifted SAKs in this role but these Colts are such good looking slippies that I think the smalls ones like the little peanut will be well received.
 
Rprocter, if this question makes any sense and in your opinion does it appear that Colt did a better job of fit and finish with the "stag" bone or buffalo bone series (as found on the titanium coated patterns.) I guess an example of what i'm trying to say is the way Frost Cutlery makes a bigger deal of the Steel Warrior line as far as quality of the product.
 
I got the bear paw silver inlay knife on ebay from a seller who does this inlay work on a variety of knives. pm me if you want a link.
not sure i understand the question about Frost Cutlery. the F.H. i showed is well made, i'd say as good as the old Schrade U.S.A. 25OT. it's shaving sharp and the Ti coating is supposed to help with edge retention, but i can't see how. for $25 it's well worth buying.
i do have quite a few Steel Warriors and they are very sweet knives. don't know if all the S.W. are as nice. i have chosen carefully for the ones i have.
i am away from about 90% of my collection so i cannot access the S.W.s for a group photo shoot.
roland
here's a pic of the 2 Gunstocks. Silver Grizzly paw inlay is a 2 blade Jack. check out the Clip blade on the other: Saber grind, 2 pulls, dramatic swage, both sides. neat, eh ?

hornetholley-3.jpg
 
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