Robeson Old TImer

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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Robeson Old TImer

Post by Shearer »

I purchased thie Robeson Shuredge Old Timer .
It looks like the knife was made by Ulster.The knife is the same as a Ulster 58OT Old Timer.I found the same tang stamp on another Robeson knife on Ebay( http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/231153365322 ... 1423.l2649 )
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Re: Robeson Old TImer

Post by knifeaholic »

What the heck??? I can't wait to see what Charlie says about this one.
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Re: Robeson Old TImer

Post by philco »

I've been to three county fairs and a goat milking contest but I ain't never seen nuthin like that. :shock: :shock:
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Re: Robeson Old TImer

Post by Shearer »

Here's a bit of history.
http://www.iknifecollector.com/group/kn ... ry-company

From 1940 to 1965
The mark was ROBESON SHUREDGE USA in all block letters.
Ulster only made this patten from 1960 to 1966.
Schrade ( Ulster ) and Camillus made different contact knives for each other.
Camillus had the contract to make knives for Robeson (Robeson continued to make knives until 1965, the year that Emerson Case
retired. The company was purchased by Cutler Federal Inc at about that time,
and for the next six years Robeson knives were made by Camillus Cutlery Co,
Grant
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Re: Robeson Old TImer

Post by RobesonsRme.com »

Forget the mark on the blade. It's a blade, not a knife.

Robeson went out of business in 1965.

I have no idea when Schrade and/or Ulster made the Old Timer knives.

I've never seen nor heard of any connection between Ulster Old Timer and Robeson.

One such knife is curious. Two are even more curiouser.

I have no explanation, but my impression is cobbled parts.

Even if they were made by the subsequent owners of the "Robeson" name, they aren't Robesons. Like I said, Robeson went out of business in 1965 and the Robeson factory in Perry, New York shut down and the workers dispersed.

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Re: Robeson Old TImer

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RobesonsRme.com wrote:Forget the mark on the blade. It's a blade, not a knife.

Robeson went out of business in 1965.

I have no idea when Schrade and/or Ulster made the Old Timer knives.

I've never seen nor heard of any connection between Ulster Old Timer and Robeson.

One such knife is curious. Two are even more curiouser.

I have no explanation, but my impression is cobbled parts.

Even if they were made by the subsequent owners of the "Robeson" name, they aren't Robesons. Like I said, Robeson went out of business in 1965 and the Robeson factory in Perry, New York shut down and the workers dispersed.

Charlie Noyes
The Ulster Old timer was made between 1960 1966
Some one was busy making a few.
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Re: Robeson Old TImer

Post by orvet »

The 50OT and 58OT, Ulster Old Timers were built on a 3-1/4” frame, the only Old Timers in the series built on a frame that size. The 3-1/4” frame was used extensively by Imperial, especially in the Frontier series of knives, but in other finishes as well, including in shell handle versions. But the 3-1/4” frame is rarely used by Schrade.

Ulster made several knives on the 3-1/4” frame, but I am not sure whether Ulster used that size before Imperial or if both companies used that size independently of one another prior to the formation of Kingston Cutlery Company in WW II. Ulster, purchased in 1941 by Albert Baer, formed an association with Imperial called Kingston Cutlery Company. The purpose was to have a third company (owned by Ulster & Imperial) that could bid on War contracts and increase the allotment of materials such as brass and steel that were rationed by the government as necessary war supplies. Having a third company increased the accessibility to the rationed materials for both Ulster & Imperial.

I think after that time they Ulster, Imperial & Kingston may have begun sharing patterns and perhaps making parts or maybe even complete knives for the other brands much like they did after Albert Baer owned Schrade (1946), Imperial (1983) and Camillus (1963). After Albert Baer owned Schrade, Ulster, Imperial & Camillus we know there was a lot of cross manufacturing between the brands. I have seen Ulster & Imperial knives that were made with the Swinden system, which was unique to the Schrade factory. Therefore those knives had to have been made in the Schrade factory. What I have never seen is a knife with a Camillus tang stamp that was made with the Swinden system, but I have seen a Camco knife made with a shell handle and stamped Ireland. Which means it was made in Imperial’s factory (the Stag factory) in Listowel, Ireland. That knife is one of the rare exceptions where another of Albert Baer’s companies made a knife for Camillus. Mostly Camillus supplied parts and completed knives to Imperial and Schrade.


Sorry for the long rambling history lesson, but I felt it was necessary to put the knives in a historical context. I think Imperial MAY have used the 3-1/4” frame before the other companies, but I cannot confirm that.

There are a number of knives built on the 3-1/4” frame from the Imperial Schrade Corp, or the companies that were merged into ISC in 1983 or 1984.

Imperial used the 3-1/4” pattern extensively in the Frontier series.
3-one quarter inch- Frontier knives.jpg
Here are some 3-1/4” Ulster patterns I have:
50OT
58OT
50
50D
I think there are others in this size too.
3-one quarter inch-Ulsters.jpg
The only knives I have seen in the 3-1/4” size with the Schrade name on the tang are the 855RB, of the Razor Blade Stainless series and several commemoratives including the Liberty Bell, Paul Revere, etc. I have not had one of these knives apart, so I do not know if they are made with the Swinden System, or if they were perhaps made by Imperial or even Camillus.
3-one quarter inch- SW Cut Liberty Bell.jpg
I don't have a pic handy of the 855RB, but you can see it here:
http://collectors-of-schrades-r.us/Open ... /855RB.htm


In this picture we have a Kingston, an Imperial England, (shell handle), probably made at Richards of Sheffield, an Imperial USA shell and an Ulster, a #50 I think.
3-one quarter inch-Uls-King-2 Imp.jpg


I have never heard of a connection between Schrade or Ulster and Robeson.
I suspect someone came across some blades after Robeson closed and found some Ulster frames after Schrade closed and decided to put them together.
It is easy to do.

I would contact the seller of your knife and see if he will tell you where the knives came from.
From what I know of the seller (by reputation) he is a pretty straight shooter. He might be able to clear up the mystery.

I am inclined to agree with Charlie; “One such knife is curious. Two are even more curiouser.” And half a dozen are even more curious yet, but that does not mean Schrade or Ulster assembled them or were going to make them for Robeson.

I think Charlie feels about Robeson the way I feel about Schrade; When the company closed in 1965 Robeson knives ceased to be made.
Just as when Schrade closed their doors in 2004, Schrade knives ceased to be made. Just because someone bought the name and now makes knives in China that say Schrade and sort of resemble the old Schrade knives after a fashion, that does not make them real Schrade knives.
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Re: Robeson Old TImer

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If the posted knife has the Swinden construction, then it must have been assembled in the Ulster/Schrade factories. It could not be a cobbled knife.

I also wonder whether Robeson ever offered a pattern that had that blade size/shape.

Interesting mystery!!
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Re: Robeson Old TImer

Post by orvet »

That is true Steve; Schrade had the only Swinden machinery.
The only way to know for sure if the knife has the Swinden construction is to take it apart.

I know Schrade did have the tooling for the 3-1/4" pattern as I have taken apart Ulster 58OTs made with the Swinden construction.
It is possible, but I think unlikely; however I never say never when Schrade is involved.
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Re: Robeson Old TImer

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knifeaholic wrote:If the posted knife has the Swinden construction, then it must have been assembled in the Ulster/Schrade factories. It could not be a cobbled knife.

I also wonder whether Robeson ever offered a pattern that had that blade size/shape.

Interesting mystery!!
The Ulster 580T came out with two different tang stamps.The first one had Ulster USA and 580T on the back bone handle.The second had Ulster USA and 580T on the same side delrin handle Swindon system.The knife I have has the delrin handles and the Swindon system.The same as the later Ulster.
All what happen Ulster or some one put the stamp on some blank blades.Just look at who had the Robeson tang stamps after they closed the factory.
I know the knife is not a Robeson the same as Kabar contract knife with a Kabar stamp is not made by Kabar but a contract knife made by Robeson.
Have a look at the two blade knife on the eBay list I posted earlier it has different tank stamps which was owned by Schrade.I say that it was a seconds knife.
Grant
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