Purina Advertisers: The Remington Years
by R. Scott Decker PhD.
One of the things I find interesting when writing about knife collecting is talking to other cutlery hobbyists and makers and hearing how they got started. For me it began with a present – a red & white-checkered “PURINA” penknife – from my grandfather when I was six years old. Owning and running a chicken farm in west-central New Jersey made him a regular customer to our local feed store where Ralston Purina Feed Chows was a top seller. During one trip he came back with a Purina pocketknife and handed it to me. Unfortunately, I lost my prized possession one weekend while roughhousing during a matinee at our local Barn Theater. But the hook was set.
Over the course of years, my collection of knives grew from everyday-carry pocketknives to high-end customs from the shops of D’Alton Holder, Randy Lee, Ray Beers and others. But while wandering through aisles, scanning tables at knife shows and flea markets, I always kept an eye out for my favorite: red and white Purina advertisers.
This article appears in the January 2022 issue of KNIFE Magazine. Premium Online Members can read the whole thing by clicking the blue button below.