Providence Fish Knife Info?

[5K Qs]

I've not been getting my usual exercise lately, so I decided to walk to a post office 1.5 miles from my house on Friday. Before returning home, I stopped in at an antique store a couple of blocks from the post office to see if they had any pocket knives. They had more knives than I expected to see, and some were very interesting, but most of the prices I deemed too high. There was one exception though. I examined a bright yellow 4" toothpick that had a fish scaler/caplifter blade in addition to the slender clip blade. The tang stamp read
PROV. CUTLERY
PROV., R.I. U.S.A.
which was new to me. The blades were clean and mirror-polished, the plastic veneer on the shell handles was bright and smooth, and the price was acceptable to me.

I used it for some food prep Saturday and discovered almost immediately that the clip blade was carbon steel, not stainless as I had guessed. Here are some photos I took today.





Does anyone have any info about Providence Cutlery? I've done some research and found that it was started in 1916 by two of the three Paolantonio brothers who later sold Providence Cutlery and started Colonial. Anyone know when (or if) the company stopped making pocket knives? Any Providence Cutlery tang stamp charts I can use to date the knife I have? Thanks in advance for any help you can provide!

- GT

 

[5K Qs]

Bueller? ...
Bueller? ...


Anyone have a Providence Cutlery knife they're willing to post here, just to show I'm not hallucinating??
Thanks.

- GT

 

[Hickory n steel]

I don't, but it looks like a good score.

Could this have just been a tang stamp sometimes used by Colonial ?
I'd maybe ask Bmauser if he knows.

 

[screened porch]

I have seen a couple of Providence Cutleries (may have bought one), and I think they are something to do with Colonial (or maybe Imperial).
I'll see if I bought one, but yeah, I know all about them.

 

[r8shell]

I don't, but it looks like a good score.

Could this have just been a tang stamp sometimes used by Colonial ?
I'd maybe ask Bmauser if he knows.

Good idea. B.Mauser is the Colonial guy.
Here's a long thread that might have some info:
https://www.bladeforums.com/threads/colonial-knife-co-providence-r-i.1393295/page-13#post-17033713

 

[B.Mauser]

I've not been getting my usual exercise lately, so I decided to walk to a post office 1.5 miles from my house on Friday. Before returning home, I stopped in at an antique store a couple of blocks from the post office to see if they had any pocket knives. They had more knives than I expected to see, and some were very interesting, but most of the prices I deemed too high. There was one exception though. I examined a bright yellow 4" toothpick that had a fish scaler/caplifter blade in addition to the slender clip blade. The tang stamp read
PROV. CUTLERY
PROV., R.I. U.S.A.
which was new to me. The blades were clean and mirror-polished, the plastic veneer on the shell handles was bright and smooth, and the price was acceptable to me.

I used it for some food prep Saturday and discovered almost immediately that the clip blade was carbon steel, not stainless as I had guessed. Here are some photos I took today.
View attachment 1053919
View attachment 1053920
View attachment 1053921
View attachment 1053922

Does anyone have any info about Providence Cutlery? I've done some research and found that it was started in 1916 by two of the three Paolantonio brothers who later sold Providence Cutlery and started Colonial. Anyone know when (or if) the company stopped making pocket knives? Any Providence Cutlery tang stamp charts I can use to date the knife I have? Thanks in advance for any help you can provide!

- GT

HI Everyone

Hi GT.

Very nice fish knife. I like that bright yellow.

As you have already learned, Providence Cutlery was indeed started by Anthony and Dominick Paolantonio. It was sold in 1925 as the 3 Paolantonio brothers prepared to start Colonial.

I don't think there are any direct connection's between the two company's beyond that.

Providence Cutlery manufactured their own knives, they were not a trademark of Colonial.


They definitely were similar to Colonial but there were many others in the area that were too. Colonial, Imperial, Providence Cutlery and Ideal knife Co were all very similar.



I do know that Providence Cutlery was still in Providence making knives in the mid 1980's. When they stopped I don't know.

I wish I could be more help. I have never found a tang stamp chart or much other information about them.


I do have one Providence Cutlery knife I can post a picture of.

 

[Hickory n steel]

HI Everyone

Hi GT.

Very nice fish knife. I like that bright yellow.

As you have already learned, Providence Cutlery was indeed started by Anthony and Dominick Paolantonio. It was sold in 1925 as the 3 Paolantonio brothers prepared to start Colonial.

I don't think there are any direct connection's between the two company's beyond that.

Providence Cutlery manufactured their own knives, they were not a trademark of Colonial.


They definitely were similar to Colonial but there were many others in the area that were too. Colonial, Imperial, Providence Cutlery and Ideal knife Co were all very similar.



I do know that Providence Cutlery was still in Providence making knives in the mid 1980's. When they stopped I don't know.

I wish I could be more help. I have never found a tang stamp chart or much other information about them.


I do have one Providence Cutlery knife I can post a picture of.

I figured you know

 

[JoeA613]

The Paolantonio’s sold it to two brothers, Domenic and Nicola Amoroso. When Domenic retired, Nicola ran it and passed it on to his son , Felix. Felix ran the company until his death at which time is was taken over by his wife and children. I believe they owned it until only several years ago.