Robeson pocket knives

The first Robeson knives were imported by Millard Robeson from England and Germany exclusively. This continued from 1979 until 1896 when Robeson began manufacturing knives in the United States. Since inception, the company has gone through several reorganizations & eventually ended up as a Queen Cutlery brand.
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FRJ
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Re: Robeson pocket knives

Post by FRJ »

Here's a nice swing guard. 4 7/16".
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Re: Robeson pocket knives

Post by RobesonsRme.com »

Nice one.
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Re: Robeson pocket knives

Post by FRJ »

Thanks, Charlie.
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Re: Robeson pocket knives

Post by KnifeSlinger#81 »

kootenay joe wrote:If it was made by Queen, i consider it a Queen knife.
Robeson was not just a brand name, it was also the manufacturer's name.
When a businessman purchases a brand name like say "Maher & Grosh" and has knives made with this branding, then to me, these are Maher & Grosh knives because it always has been a merchant name. There never was a Mayer & Grosh knife manufacturer.
kj
I wholeheartedly agree with that. Perry, ny robesons are my favorite old brand after schrade, I don't have very many but I just love them. Rich, rich history, superb quality, tons of innovation and some of the finest brown bone ever put on a knife. The queen made ones just don't have it, even though they are fine quality.
-Paul T.

WANTED: Shapleigh Diamond Edge branded Schrades in good condition.
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Re: Robeson pocket knives

Post by FRJ »

Here's a nice little Robeson jack. It's three inches long closed. Not sure this is a boys knife.
At least the springs are so strong a boy would have a very hard time opening the blades.
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Re: Robeson pocket knives

Post by edge213 »

Joe, that one is beautiful.
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Re: Robeson pocket knives

Post by FRJ »

Thank you, David. ::tu::
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Re: Robeson pocket knives

Post by RobesonsRme.com »

That's nice.

I don't really consider that a "Boy's Knife" as it's not drilled and has no chain.

But, Robeson did put that knife in a two knife box set with a 319 senator and called it a "Father and Son Set".

You can see one of those in the Ferguson book.

Charlie
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Re: Robeson pocket knives

Post by Oldredbone67 »

Hello, I picked up this Robeson knife today, my first one. The person selling it said that Robeson is a good knife. Could someone tell me the approximate year it was made and any other info would be helpful. I especially like the Saber grind blade, is there a way I could tell if it is carbon steel or SS? The shield does not say Robeson, just the blade. The blade reads 622061 model number ?
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Re: Robeson pocket knives

Post by kootenay joe »

The handles look to be jigged Delrin. If they are, then knife is newer than 1960.
Hopefully someone familiar with Robeson will be along with more specific information.
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Re: Robeson pocket knives

Post by RobesonsRme.com »

It's a "Robeson" in name only, a RINO I suppose. :)

Robeson Cutlery went out of business in 1965 and a company called Cutler Federal purchased the rights to the name. They had knives made for them by Camillus Cutlery Co in Camillus, New York.

Your knife is one of them. Not made by the Robeson craftsmen in the Robeson factory in Perry, New York.

Any Robeson marked knife that has the pattern number on the front of the tang is a post 1965 knife and most likely made by Camillus.

The handles are pressure molded Delrin. I'm pretty sure the blades are carbon steel.

Camillus did not even produce the same knife as an original Robeson 622061 slim trapper, which was more akin to a Case 048 trapper.

Your knife has a bit more bulky frame.

I'll post a pic of an original below. This knife was made between 1948 and 1959. I'm not sure I've ever seen a pre-WWII example of this pattern.

Absolutely nothing wrong with the knife, but your seller should have been touting the qualities of Camillus, not Robeson.

Cutler Federal turned around and resold the Robeson name to Ontario Knife Company, who also owns Queen and they still retain it and produce a few well made, but not accurate, reproductions every couple of years.

Charlie Noyes
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Re: Robeson pocket knives

Post by Oldredbone67 »

Thanks for the info
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Re: Robeson pocket knives

Post by galvanic1882 »

In going through the Robeson's that I have to sell I found a few that I think are special.

Years ago I picked up an ink blotter that was made to advertise a patented knife that Robeson made. I was always looking for a nice example to go with it and this one was in the batch.

The other knife is a 4 1/4" closed English Jack type framed knife that at first look I thought was a lockback, since there are about 5 of them in the bunch, but was not. The blade has the patent number of a toothpick or fish knife and what I thought was the lock on the backspring turned out to be a fish hook remover and ruler blade.
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Re: Robeson pocket knives

Post by biglmbass »

Those two are great, galvanic. I've never seen either. The reverse congress looks great
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Re: Robeson pocket knives

Post by edge213 »

Just FYI: Queen Cutlery is now owned by the Daniels Family. They purchased Queen in 2011 or 2012. I agree with Charlie that the Queen made Robesons aren't "real" Robesons. But they are high quality knives.
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Re: Robeson pocket knives

Post by RobesonsRme.com »

Nice knives Mike. I bid on a similar knife with the patented, no-pins, handles a while back, but could not win it.

I have never seen that jack with the folding hook disgorger.

Charlie Noyes
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Re: Robeson pocket knives

Post by RobesonsRme.com »

Does Ontario Knife no longer exist?

I was not aware they had sold Queen to the Daniel's family.

That will take some getting used to. ::facepalm::

Charlie
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Re: Robeson pocket knives

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Ontario still exists.
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Re: Robeson pocket knives

Post by galvanic1882 »

Thanks Charlie, too bad you missed that one! I did not even see it. With all these Robeson's to sell I had to keep these 2 and the Terrier lockback. Tom said he had never seen the hook remover knife either!
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Re: Robeson pocket knives

Post by Jtx »

Here is my Robeson 629253 No-Rustain pen knife. I got this years ago. It had been cleaned, so I sharpened it and carried it. It has the script Shuredge mark, milled liners and pretty bone. Well made little knife that is a pleasure to use.
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Re: Robeson pocket knives

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Jtx, that's a little beauty for sure. ::tu::
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Re: Robeson pocket knives

Post by Jtx »

Thanks FRJ.
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Re: Robeson pocket knives

Post by RobesonsRme.com »

That's a nice knife.

They made the 253 in bone and pearl and probably other handle material as well.

I've seen them with two and four blades.

But, I've never seen it in stainless as a NO- RUSTAIN.

That's a new one.

Charlie
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Re: Robeson pocket knives

Post by Jtx »

RobesonsRme.com wrote:That's a nice knife.

They made the 253 in bone and pearl and probably other handle material as well.

I've seen them with two and four blades.

But, I've never seen it in stainless as a NO- RUSTAIN.

That's a new one.

Charlie

Thanks Charlie. Maybe I shouldn't have sharpened it? ::dang::
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Re: Robeson pocket knives

Post by RobesonsRme.com »

You said it had been cleaned. It's your knife. You didn't hurt it any further.
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