Monthly Archives for September 2012

Priceless Scrimshaw..

These are a few fixed blade knives that I made over 30 years ago. I experimented with so many knives, so many handle materials from all over the world. The stag and bone for these knives came from Canada! I had friends in Quebec and Montreal that would send me antlers from their hunt, and I would in turn make them knives and a few for my collection! Most of the bone or stag from my pocket knives came from India. India antler’s have so much more exterior character than American big game.

I even made a necklace for my friend Mike Scogland, “The great White Hunter” was his nickname, God rest his soul. Mike was hunting the land his family owned north of Warrensburg, New York, in a small town at the base of the Adirondack Mountains. The town was Stony Creek. We spent many weekends hunting the grand woods in the winter and camping in the summer. Mike dropped a huge Black Bear one year and I made him a Paw Claw necklace from the enormous claw nails of this big game. I wish I could find the pictures..

The necklace was made from brown rawhide, colored beads and huge three-inch claws! I do not condone the shooting or killing of ANY animals these days. Especially just for sport!  While the meat from these big game animals is delicious, I say just go to stop and shop!! The only shooting we do these days is strictly target shooting!

Knife making…Waiting at the gates…

When we look at today’s lifestyles, many people go to their jobs earn their paychecks, and pay the bills. It’s unfortunate that most of us work at jobs we can’t stand but because we need to pay the bills, take care of our children and stay above water, we have no choice. There is a very small percentage of folks that actually love what they do, may not earn as much as they like, but at least when they wake in the morning, they feel good about going to work.

When I worked at Radio Shack selling and dealing with electronics, I did enjoy going to work and as stressful as it was, I enjoyed what I did. When I was fully involved with Colonial and Heritage making knives, the morning feeling was a different feeling all together!! I was absolutely obsessed with all aspects of the pocket knife industry. This was a feeling, at a very young age, I knew what I wanted to do for a living. Many nights laying in bed I was planning what I wanted to accomplish the next day. Many mornings were spent waiting at the gates of Colonial for the maintenance man to come and open up the factory.

The love of working with knives is a feeling I can’t explain and I still feel today; you might say obsession beyond belief!! As much as I miss those days, my feelings were put to paper with my book. If you love what you do, buy my book and share the same life that makes you happy and the life that I was fortunate enough to be a part of for many years..

Robert A. Paolantonio..

Press Release for Robert A. Paolantonio’s Book

 Knives can be dangerous weapons. They can also be works of art, collectables, tools and a way for a family to make a prosperous living. The story of knives is a lesson in history. This is the true story of growing up in a world full of knives. “My Family Business, Colonial Knife” was written by a man who grew up in that world. That man is Robert Anthony Paolantonio.

 When Colonial Knife Company closed the doors in 1998 the last great American knife manufacturing company faded into history.  Knives produced by the former Providence RI business are still sought after by collectors.And now, one of the grandson and nephews of the company’s original founders, Robert A. Paolantonio, has written a book entitled “My Family Business, Colonial Knife Company”.

 This insider’s look tells the story of three immigrant brothers making a dream a reality, the struggle to succeed and growing up amongst the knives. The book pays tribute to the colorful characters that contributed to the success and failure of this American business. The story also addresses how and a failure to modernize can lead to the fall of an American Company. It is simply written as the author takes you on a lively tour, room by room, of the factory. In detail, the author describes each piece of machinery and the processes used by Colonial Knife to manufacture its’ products. There are many pages containing full color pictures of some of Colonial Knife Company’s creations and memorabilia.

Mr. Paolantonio also shares more of the history of this former American icon via a popular blog myfamilybusinessbook.wordpress.com. The book also has a growing audience at a fan page on Face Book. Mr. Paolantonio may be reached via email at myfamilybusinessbook@gmail.com

Boring Loosers and Knives

Boring Loosers and Knives.

The Value Of Communicating With Workers

The Value Of Communicating With Workers.

TAKE CARE OF THOSE THAT TAKE CARE OF US!!

We are all guilty of this and that includes myself. We all go through life surrounded by friends and family but there are those certain few that go out of there way to help us. These people are the giving, caring, loving folks we seem to overlook. We don’t mean to but somehow we forget to recognise these friends and it’s human nature to not appreciate some things or people until they are gone, and then it’s too late! This shout out goes to those people who we neglect to say thank you for your time, your thoughts, your efforts, and your love. These wonderful people don’t expect a thank you but deserve it more than anyone. So the next time that old friend of yours or neighbor or family friend does something nice, take a moment to appreciate what they do for us, without being told to!! My particular story refers to my most valued friend, Mrs. Michele Kacy, the kindest woman I have ever met!! God bless you Michele..Love you always.

The Value Of Communicating With Workers

The Value Of Communicating With Workers.

The Value Of Communicating With Workers

” People would be so happy to see an owner interested in what they were doing, and it made them feel important.        You know why?  Because they were important. Every person, every machine, every operation was important. Everything absolutely fascinated me, and people knew it. When they saw me , they would say they were seeing my granddad, Fred.  I was proud of them and what they were doing. Do you think my uncles at the country club cared about these people?  Not a chance. They used to laugh at me for talking to them. Once my father saw me in the factory talking to people and he pulled me aside and said ” What are you doing?  Those are workers, we don’t talk to them!”

Some friends recently wrote a book about the power of communication in business. It’s entitled “The Power Within Internal Communications, An Executive’s Edge In Business Strategy. ( http://bookstore.xlibris.com/Products/SKU-0109912049/The-Power-Within.aspx) “In modern business or any organization, there is no such thing as a second class citizen. Everyone has a critical role and shares in the failures or success.”

It’s too bad that my father and uncle didn’t have a chance to read it. If they had then perhaps they could have appreciated how very critical  communication with  workers was to the success of Colonial Knife Company.