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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Re: Robeson pocket knives

Post by kootenay joe »

Queen is an old long established knife manufacturer. I cannot understand why they make seemingly no attempt to accurately use the much respected Robeson name "Pocketeze". They stuck the shield on because a red shield looks good, so it's just 'marketing'.
I am not a Robeson collector but this lack of respect for Robeson knives annoys me. A Pocketeze shield should only be on a knife with sunk joints.
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Re: Robeson pocket knives

Post by RobesonsRme.com »

They own the name, "Robeson", but they never endeavored to own the great traditions of Robeson.

They needed a Robeson collector or historian to help them with their pattern selections to reproduce and to ensure accuracy in the details.

They talked to me once at The Blade Show in Atlanta about being a consultant. David Clark had told them they should do so. I declined. I cannot afford to travel back and forth and they had already messed up on their "PocketEze" and "MasterCraft" lines and putting genuine stag on knives that Robeson never did and "reproducing" patterns that Robeson never produced, such as those canoes. I was a bit "done" with them and their efforts by that point.

They should have gotten Tom Kalcevic. He's closer, has more and varied Robeson knives and wrote the books on Robeson history.

Charlie
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Re: Robeson pocket knives

Post by ratlesnake75 »

Hey Mr. Noyes, thought I would add this Robeson #622027 Easy Open to this thread.
Kind Regards,
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Re: Robeson pocket knives

Post by FRJ »

Here's a unique Robeson. Pretty cool knife. 3 1/8".
Thanks for looking.
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Re: Robeson pocket knives

Post by philco »

Joe what an interesting knife. I don't recall ever seeing one like it. I like it ! ::tu::
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Re: Robeson pocket knives

Post by FRJ »

Thank you for the nice comment, Phil.
It's the first one I've seen too. Glad you like it.
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Re: Robeson pocket knives

Post by RobesonsRme.com »

Very Nice!!

I've seen a couple, so Robeson did make them.

Interesting how they covered the backsprings and put that piece of pearl there.

I've got a Robeson four blade pearl handled gentleman's knife with covered backsprings.

What is the material between the pieces of pearl?

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Re: Robeson pocket knives

Post by FRJ »

Thank you, Charlie.

The material between the pearl is some sort of plastic. Maybe celluloid.
Wish I had paid closer attention, the frame is "U" shaped and there is a catch bit to allow for a longer spear blade.
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Re: Robeson pocket knives

Post by kootenay joe »

Frame is U shaped so spring is on the inside of the U so not a true "covered backspring" ?
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Re: Robeson pocket knives

Post by philco »

I don't own many Robeson knives but I sure like the ones I have.
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Re: Robeson pocket knives

Post by RobesonsRme.com »

Very nice, Phil.

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Re: Robeson pocket knives

Post by RobesonsRme.com »

With a "U" shaped frame, I'm wondering if the knives were not made by Walkill Cutlery.

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Re: Robeson pocket knives

Post by FRJ »

Wallkill wouldn't be a bad connection. All day long ............. it could be .... ::nod::

I got this from Goins.

Thanks, Charlie.
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Re: Robeson pocket knives

Post by FRJ »

Nice knives, Phil. ::tu:: ::tu:: ::tu::
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Re: Robeson pocket knives

Post by philco »

FRJ wrote:Nice knives, Phil. ::tu:: ::tu:: ::tu::
Thank you sir. :)
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Re: Robeson pocket knives

Post by ScoutKnives »

I picked up this Robeson 3 1/4" SCOUT about a year or so ago .
French ivory cell handles , never sharpened and no pattern number . Possibly missing a removable lanyard and chain ?
Thanks for looking .
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Re: Robeson pocket knives

Post by bestgear »

Cool knife Mike, I like French Ivory covers
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Re: Robeson pocket knives

Post by RobesonsRme.com »

I think I tried to buy that celluloid "Scout" jack.

I, too, think it was a Boy's Knife and had a chain and button loop on it.

Very nice.

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Re: Robeson pocket knives

Post by FRJ »

Well, it turns out I bought a few Robeson's. Didn't plan on it but there they were. Ya can't just drive around them.

This big old 3 7/8" jack is pretty cool with it's big bolster, wide spring and blade. Very strong snap. The secondary blade is thinner, but just as snappy as the big spear. Robeson's old whatever covers and a cool stamped beaver image on the blade. Not an etch.
Just about a nail breaker. Half stops X 2.
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Re: Robeson pocket knives

Post by FRJ »

Here's a nice Mastercraft whittler. 3 5/8". Very nice old knife.
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Re: Robeson pocket knives

Post by FRJ »

A very sweet little 3" gunstock that Charlie Noyes commented on in another thread.
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Re: Robeson pocket knives

Post by FRJ »

The last of these knives is a really cool "Pocket eze" equal end jack. 3 3/4". Just a great all around knife. Coined liners which I didn't photograph. Easy to open blades.
Thanks for looking.
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Re: Robeson pocket knives

Post by Duffer »

Very nice Joe! Hard to beat a Robeson. I am especially drawn to the Pocket Eze Jack and Mastercraft Whittler. What's not to like--hidden joints, bronze bearings, beautiful jigged brown bone are all very cool in a vintage folder ::nod:: Overall, just a wonderful group of vintage Robesons ::tu:: Lloyd
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Re: Robeson pocket knives

Post by RobesonsRme.com »

Joe, those are all very nice knives.

If the handle material is not ebony on that hefty jack, it is an early form of Micarta.

I've always wondered about that beaver etch or stamp on that knife. The complete stamp shows a rasp or file beneath the beaver. Made me wonder if it wasn't an adverting piece. The knife is shown in old, old catalogs, so it must have been a regular production piece.

They made a very similar knife, etched "BULL DOG". It had a different pattern number, 220, I think, but I'm hard pressed to see a difference in their construction. I think there might have been a difference in length.

You've been getting some nice Robesons lately.

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Re: Robeson pocket knives

Post by steve99f »

WOW Joe, those are fantastic! What great bone on three of them. The equal end is interesting for the different size bolsters, never saw that before on an equal end. And that gunstock is a nice knife with great bone. The jack with the beaver etch looks almost like a Barlow with that long bolster. A knife made for hard work. Great Robesons Joe! ::tu::

This came home with me yesterday from one of those antique malls that are so common now. Fun to look around in with the wife wife though and I stumbled across this little senator in strawberry bone. Disappointed with the shield missing but I couldn't leave her behind. I was surprised in looking at the knife that the shield appears to have been glued in rather than pinned. I would appreciate your input on that Charlie. I thought maybe this is a Queen made Robeson but the tang mark indicates otherwise.
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