Affordable Knives, family Tradition
By Mike Haskew , Blade magazine, field editorWhen Steve Paolantonio joined Colonial® he came back from a three‐year hiatus. Seems times were changing in the knife industry, and apositive response to fresh ideas would lay the foundation to futuresuccess.His family’s roots in knife manufacturing go back almost a century. Hisgrandfather, Antonio Paolantonio started the A. Paolantonio Cutlery in1919 after a stint in the U.S. Army during WWI, where he learned theblacksmith trade with the cavalry. Antonio recognized the blend oftradition and foresight that would ensure the future success of a newenterprise.Founded by Steve’s grandfather and his two brothers in 1926, ColonialKnife® had been operated by three generations of the Paolantoniofamily. By the late 1990’s, Steve was the company president.“The time...