A Historical Perspective On Vintage Robeson Tang Stamps

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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A Historical Perspective On Vintage Robeson Tang Stamps

Post by RobesonsRme.com »

The various tang stamps used by The Robeson Cutlery Company apparently fall into fairly well defined time periods. Like the tang stamps used by the Case cutlery companies, Robeson's tang stamps were used for certain periods of time, then replaced by newer, but different designs.

Robeson's stamps have traditionally been divided into periods of time that included those from the early 1890's to about 1900, 1900 to about 1945, 1945 to 1965, and 1965 to 1977. These time period estimates were provided initially by Mr. Dewey Ferguson in Romance of Collecting Cattaraugus, Robeson, Russell and Queen Knives, 1976. These estimates served me well during the earlier years of my collecting.

As I have stated earlier, the best reference on all things Robeson is Knives Can Talk, by Tom Kalcevic and most recently Robeson Collectables and Rarities, 2012. Mr. Kalcevic resides in the Avon, New York. He has had access to former factory workers, factory documents, the spouse of Emerson Case, Robeson's last president, and City Directories in the local libraries. Tom's breakdown and dating of the various stampings used by Robeson is the most detailed in existence. I have chosen to accept, by faith, what Tom has published.

I do have one or two marks that were not included in Tom's books, and I have dated them in with his dates, where they seem to fit as best as I can determine.

I do not possess a representative example of every tang stamp known to have been used by Robeson. I will provide a photo of any tang stamp that I can, however.

The different lines of a tang stamp will be separated by a forward slash /, with a space preceding and following. Different styles of lettering will be described within parentheses. Arched stamps will be designated as such within parentheses. Straight stamps will be as they appeared on the knives.

I am going to limit this to the tang marks on the master blades of folding knives. If I depart from that, it will be noted.

Attempting to date a Robeson knife by the stamps on the secondary blades is futile. Some premium knives do have the same stamp on all blades, so obviously my last statement is not exactly true. However, Robeson generally placed on of only three or four stamps on the secondary blades, while the master blade went through dozens of stamps over the years.

Here are the stamps, in chronological order as Tom Kalcevic and I understand them. The dates should be considered as close estimates only and not written in stone.

M. F. ROBESON (Seen only on razors, thus far) 1880 - 1884

ROBESON / CUTLERY Co / ENGLAND 1885 - 1890

ROBESON / CUTLERY Co. with GERMANY on one blade 1891 - 1895

ROBESON / CUT. Co. with PREMIER on one or more blades 1891 -1895

R. C. Co. with GERMANY on one blade 1891 - 1895

GENESEE 1891 - 1895

FILLMORE / CUTLERY / Co. with GERMANY or AUSTRIA on one blade 1891 - 1895

ROBESON / CUTLERY CO. / WARRANTED 1896 - 1899

THE / ROBESON / CUT. CO. / ROCHESTER, N.Y. 1896 - 1899

THE R. C. CO. / ROCHESTER 1896 - 1899

ROBESON / CUTLERY 1896 - 1899

ROBESON (arched up) / CO. / CUTLERY (arched down) 1900 - 1910

ROBESON (arched) / CO. / CUTLERY 1900 - 1916

R. C. / CO. 1900 - 1939

ROBESON / CUT. CO. / U.S.A. 1910 - 1920

ROBESON / CUTLERY / CO. 1910 - 1921

ROBESON (arched) / ShurEdge (script & diagonal) / ROCHESTER, N.Y 1907 - 1911

TERRIER / CUTLERY / ROCHESTER, N.Y. 1910 - 1916

ROBESON / ShurEdge (script) / ROCHESTER, N.Y. 1911 - 1921

ROBESON / DEMONSTRATOR 1911 - 1939

ROBESON / ShurEdge (script) / U.S.A. 1916 - 1939

ROBESON (arched) / U. S. A. / CUTLERY on master blade 1917 - 1939

ROBESON / CUTLERY / ROCHESTER 1917 - 1939

ROBESON / ShurEdge (script) / ROCHESTER 1922 - 1939

ROBESON / SHUREDGE ( block) / U.S.A. 1940 - 1964

ROBESON / pattern number / U.S.A. 1965 - 1977
Attachments
1891 - 1895
1891 - 1895
1895 - 1899
1895 - 1899
Found on some older knives made in Germany and Camillus, N.Y. by Sherwood
Found on some older knives made in Germany and Camillus, N.Y. by Sherwood
1891 - 1895
1891 - 1895
1896 - 1899
1896 - 1899
1896 - 1899
1896 - 1899
1900 - 1910
1900 - 1910
1900 - 1916
1900 - 1916
1910 - 1920
1910 - 1920
1910 - 1921
1910 - 1921
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Re: A Historical Perspective On Vintage Robeson Tang Stamps

Post by RobesonsRme.com »

More:
Attachments
1900 - 1939
1900 - 1939
1917 - 11939
1917 - 11939
1907 - 1911
1907 - 1911
1910 - 1916
1910 - 1916
Terrier logo found on most, but not all Terrier knives
Terrier logo found on most, but not all Terrier knives
TerrierLogo.jpg (21.19 KiB) Viewed 29587 times
1911 - 1921
1911 - 1921
1911 - 1939
1911 - 1939
1916 - 1939
1916 - 1939
1917 - 1939
1917 - 1939
1917 -1939 This was used on knives made at the Mount Morris, N.Y. plant built during WWI
1917 -1939 This was used on knives made at the Mount Morris, N.Y. plant built during WWI
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Re: A Historical Perspective On Vintage Robeson Tang Stamps

Post by RobesonsRme.com »

The rest:
Attachments
1922 - 1939
1922 - 1939
1940 - 1964
1940 - 1964
1965 - 1977
1965 - 1977
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Re: A Historical Perspective On Vintage Robeson Tang Stamps

Post by junebug »

AWESOME! 8)
THANK YOU, for all the TIME and RESEARCH EFFORT,Charlie ::handshake::
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Re: A Historical Perspective On Vintage Robeson Tang Stamps

Post by stockman »

Thanks for the tang stamp info!!

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Re: A Historical Perspective On Vintage Robeson Tang Stamps

Post by btrwtr »

Great information and thanks for posting Charlie.

Here is a M. F. Robeson razor I have.
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DSC08356.JPG
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Re: A Historical Perspective On Vintage Robeson Tang Stamps

Post by RobesonsRme.com »

Wayne, that's a nice old razor.

Is there a country of origin on it, such as Germany?

Some of the M.F. ROBESON marked razors were made in Germany and some were made here, presumably in New York.

I have a very similar, if not identical, razor with that same awesome etch.

They also made one in that same time period that was etched, "OUR BEST".

Thanks for posting.

Charlie Noyes
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Re: A Historical Perspective On Vintage Robeson Tang Stamps

Post by Joe58 »

Thank you muchly for posting that. Really helps a relative newby at collecting the older traditionals, such as myself, narrow down years of manufacture.

I was able to determine my old Robeson eureka ended in 1939. I didn't think it was that old. Perhaps I shouldn't carry it. Can't help it though, it's one of my favorites.
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Re: A Historical Perspective On Vintage Robeson Tang Stamps

Post by jmh58 »

Thanks Charlie.. Picked up a EO bone last yr.. Dug it out the other day, gave it a sharpening, and dropped it in the pocket.. Now come to find the tang stamp is 1916-1939!! KOOL!!! ::tu:: ! John :D
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Re: A Historical Perspective On Vintage Robeson Tang Stamps

Post by jjwgcollectibles »

I have a Robeson 1896 to 1899 my number gave me a little problem ..but i am hoping i understand it better now. my number is C73284 and here is an image or 2 of the knife .. i would like to know what model it is since it has a boot hook on it ?
PB140649aaa.JPG
PB140650aaa.JPG
PB140656.JPG
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Re: A Historical Perspective On Vintage Robeson Tang Stamps

Post by RobesonsRme.com »

Your little knife has rose colored genuine pearl handles, so the "C" as the first character of the pattern number is a curiosity.
Early on, the "C" stood for celluloid.

Also, the second character of the pattern number denoted the number of blades. Obviously, your knife does not have seven blades.

However, "7" was the character that denoted genuine pearl handles.

So, If we ignore the "C", I read your pattern number as 732084.

Robeson often dropped the zero from the fourth position on knives whose handle-die shape number was 001 through 099.

I assume that "C" must have something to do with the special dye job of the pearl handles.

I have an identical knife with rose pearl, but unfortunately, mine has no pattern number and it is a little later than yours.

The pearl on yours is somewhat faded or bleached out.

I've seen these with four blades, as well.

The hook is a glove hook for fastening ladies gloves, as these knives were meant for women.

Charlie Noyes
Attachments
ThreeBlade2B.jpg
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Re: A Historical Perspective On Vintage Robeson Tang Stamps

Post by jjwgcollectibles »

Charlie,
Thank you for all of your help ...is it possible the hook was also for boot laces as well..the high boots they used to wear ..only reason i ask is i used it in my ad copy as boot lace hook although i probably need to let people know it is a ladies knife ...
thank you so much again
bsafe
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Re: A Historical Perspective On Vintage Robeson Tang Stamps

Post by RobesonsRme.com »

I think the knives are a bit too dainty to be used to button boots or shoes.

We have a button hook on the dresser in our guest bedroom and it is much more substantial than these knives.

That opinion, though, probably does not matter to the average Ebay knife bidder.

Charlie
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Re: A Historical Perspective On Vintage Robeson Tang Stamps

Post by TnqCmdr74_78 »

RobesonsRme:
Thank you for your very complete information on Robeson’s Knives! I’m still going through my Grandfather’s knives he collected and used throughout his life and came across the large Barlow style ‘Daddy’. I used your info provided to determine composition of liners/scales, etc. as your can see in my pics, he used this knife almost dailybin his hunting guide position out of Colorado. I remember as early as I can of him pulling this knife out of the inside breast pocket of his hunting vest. It looked huge to me at 4 years old! That was in 1956, which corresponds to the era matching the tang stamp.
My question: it looks like the scales, bolsters, and liners are in very good shape, but the blade looks well used with the patina it has acquired over the decades. How far can I go to ‘save’ the blade from further deterioration? As far as collector value, I don’t have a clue. Will I ever use it as intended- no. So what would be the best advice to preserve the blade? I haven’t attempted any blade cleansing of surface rust removal, so any advice would be most welcome!
Thx I. Advance !
-TnqCmdr
Attachments
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8FAA66CB-537F-49C3-B792-C17448791793.jpeg
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8726ACA3-7EB8-4EB6-8EF2-1181F4B47E6C.jpeg
39444C49-1F8F-4E6D-8D3F-A4DAB836E145.jpeg
8B397223-7063-4852-BE38-7B6263427701.jpeg
51695861-619A-4A3D-8D28-05D2EB3EA716.jpeg
9A8BD6E5-1C2A-45AC-9EBD-D6DB658C8657.jpeg
11BE4B1F-8624-4A48-AA2C-57819DE4D991.jpeg
7A8E6A63-3B37-4067-8773-A7BE0D420630.jpeg
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Re: A Historical Perspective On Vintage Robeson Tang Stamps

Post by RobesonsRme.com »

I'm not really into knife restoration. There are others here that can offer more lucid advise.

I'd start by dropping the entire knife, opened, into a container of penetrating oil and let it sit there for several days. Then, take it out, wipe it dry and coat the metal parts, blade and backspring, with Mineral Oil, USP, available at any pharmacy.

And I suggest asking this question in another forum. I don't think those with answers will see it here.

Charlie
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Re: A Historical Perspective On Vintage Robeson Tang Stamps

Post by TnqCmdr74_78 »

Thanks Charlie ! I’ll give that a whirl as well as posting in another forum.
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Re: A Historical Perspective On Vintage Robeson Tang Stamps

Post by dlr110 »

I don't know if anyone has seen this website before, but it seems to be a very good history on Robeson and all in one location. I looked here on AAPK and didn't see this same info, I'm not always good at that so if this is a repeat, my apologies. Here it is and I hope it helps everyone, it did me.

https://robesonsrme.com/history.php
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Re: A Historical Perspective On Vintage Robeson Tang Stamps

Post by RobesonsRme.com »

Thank you, David. ::tu::

That was a website I created in 2003.

Years later, the hosting company somehow managed to delete it and all its files.

Bryan, the creator of AAPK was able to recreate it using some snap shots of it I found on an internet archive site.

It needs some editing, such as moving the captions back under the photos in the second column. They are crowded into the captions of the first column.

We haven't been able to figure that out yet.

Interestingly, some people on AAPK are able to access the original site. I am not. ::paranoid::

Charlie Noyes
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