Robeson extreames

[RobesonsRme.com]

I'm reasonably sure I have seen a photo of a counter top die-cut display of these knives that touted them as having something other than aluminum, possibly pewter, but I'm a bit fuzzy on that.

I'm not saying that the knives you have are not aluminum. I'm suggesting that at one time they had a handle material other than that.

I'm right sure they were never "nickel=silver", at least not of the grade of that material we see as bolsters and liners.

Charlie

[RobesonsRme.com]

Robeson catalogs from the time period, 1950's and 60's, describe the knives as having "metal handles" and nickel-silver liners.

Charlie

[OLDE CUTLER]

Actually there is a Robeson 033750 in the AAPK store right now that says it has nickel silver liners. Mine has the aluminum handles and the center divider is aluminum also, but has no nickel silver liners. They must have made different models of this design.

[Jtx]

Here is a photo of my metal handle stockman. It does not have a pattern number stamped on it. I have the book titled Antique Knives (second edition) by Bruce Voyles published in 1995. That book shows this knife with a pattern number 932750. The description reads Premium Stock - Metal.

This book also has a key to the pattern numbers, which says the first number is the handle material, second number is the number of blades, the third number is the liners & bolster configuration and the remaining three numbers are the factory pattern number. The key shows the number 9 (handle material) as "Gun Metal"... whatever that means. The second number is 3 which means 3 blades. The third number (liners & bolsters) is 2 which the key says are "brass lining, nickel silver bolsters"... which is not correct for my knife.

[OLDE CUTLER]

Here is a photo of my metal handle stockman. It does not have a pattern number stamped on it. I have the book titled Antique Knives (second edition) by Bruce Voyles published in 1995. That book shows this knife with a pattern number 932750. The description reads Premium Stock - Metal.

This book also has a key to the pattern numbers, which says the first number is the handle material, second number is the number of blades, the third number is the liners & bolster configuration and the remaining three numbers are the factory pattern number. The key shows the number 9 (handle material) as "Gun Metal"... whatever that means. The second number is 3 which means 3 blades. The third number (liners & bolsters) is 2 which the key says are "brass lining, nickel silver bolsters"... which is not correct for my knife.

Thanks for your info.
Using that pattern # guide, what would 033750 be? Mine looks just like the picture that Joe posted looking at the back of the knife, that is I see 5 "layers", handle, spring, center divider, spring, handle. If it had nickel silver liners would it have 7 "layers" looking at the back? Or are they recessed inside the handles? Mine certainly does not have nickel silver liners.

[FRJ]

Thank you, OLDE CUTLER, and Charlie, and Jtx.

Jtx, I have that book and surnuf, there it is. Thank you.

[Jtx]

Thanks for your info.
Using that pattern # guide, what would 033750 be? Mine looks just like the picture that Joe posted looking at the back of the knife, that is I see 5 "layers", handle, spring, center divider, spring, handle. If it had nickel silver liners would it have 7 "layers" looking at the back? Or are they recessed inside the handles? Mine certainly does not have nickel silver liners.

According to this book, your knife (with 3 as the third digit) would have "silver linings and bolsters". I can't explain the descrepancy between your knife and the key in the book. As I said, my knife does not match up with the key either.

[RobesonsRme.com]

These knives are not all that old. They were made in the late 50's, early 60's when Robeson was a failing company trying to compete and survive.

The 750 stockman was an old pattern and they simply came up with the most inexpensive way of making the knife they could.

They also made it with cheap looking black slab plastic handles with a jigging pattern to it.

They revived an old tang stamp for it and that confuses everybody that doesn't know the history of the knives.

I suspect they did not adhere to their pattern numbering system with any degree of accuracy, either. Rather than create a new number for the handles, they just used whatever somebody thought fit.

I did some searches last night on AAPK and I,myself, have previously posted that I'd seen these advertised as having nickel-silver handles.

If that was accurate and who knows at this point, I suspect Robeson, circa 1958,just considered the handles and liners as one. I have never seen one of these with actual separate liners in the frame.

I have never owned one of these knives. I've never liked them, though I'm sure they were totally serviceable knives.

I do know they made a 750 stockman with smooth polished nickel-silver handles, but that was pre-WWII and a totally different animal than these.

Charlie Noyes

[OLDE CUTLER]

Thanks for your interesting comments on these Robeson metal knives, Charlie. Sure can get confusing at times. I agree that there isn't much to like about them, kind of alien, character less knives, nothing like the bone or wood we all love. I bought this one I have for $3 at a flea market because I had never seen one before and it was different. Your assessment of Robeson in their final years trying to make a buck is surely hitting the nail on the head. But as a utilitarian tool, they would have certainly been a step ahead of a similar knife with all plastic handles. I haven't seen one of those, yet.