Barry Wood was not the first to make a rotary action folding knife but he did get a patent on his design. The patent number is 3702501. He filed for a patent for a "split handle jack knife" in 1968 and the patent was granted in 1972. Browning had entered the sporting knife business in 1969 and Colt contracted with Barry to produce his Mk. I folder under the Colt name in 1970. The knife was first cataloged by Colt in 1971 and was only offered for about three or four years. The belt sheaths for the Colt knives were very likely made by Alfonso's because they are identical to the one shown above by David, except for the markings. Barry also produced other knife models based on the swivel action in the following years.
There have been several copies of the Mk.I folder. Three that I know of specifically were made by the Wyoming Knife Company ("Powder River Folder"), A.G. Russell and Pacific Cutlery ("Balisong"). Pacific Cutlery was by far the highest quality and the knives actually carry Barry Wood's patent number. I don't know for sure that any of these were actually made in the USA. I have one of the Pacific Cutlery knives and it is not marked as to the country of origin but I think it was probably made in Japan since many
of their other knives were made there. I owned a Powder River Folder years ago, but don't remember where it was actually produced. I believe the A.G. Russell knives were made in Italy but I could be wrong about that.
- - Buckspen