The Knife Not Known To Exist

[RobesonsRme.com]

A very well known knife and cutlery historian has stated in all five editions of his world famous knife tome that the only "gunstock whittler" known to him was the Orange Blossom type gunstock lobster and that all others thought of as gunstock whittlers were most likely three back spring cattle knives.

I'm reasonably sure that both Case and Winchester produced genuine whittler configured gunstock pocketknives.

I know that Robeson did because I own two different patterns of such knives.

Here is a very nice Robeson 632374, 3 1/2" brown bone w nickel-silver bomb shield gunstock whittler with a nicely swedged spear master blade that rides on both back springs and the two secondary blades riding separately on the two split and divided springs.

Not My Knife, Not My Auction, and I'm Not Bidding.

However, you should know that I have bought from this man before and he just recently bought a Robeson U.S. Navy Mark II from me through an Ebay auction. I know him only through Ebay. He and I have not communicated about this knife or this auction.

I am presenting this to you guys in the hope that one of you might acquire it. This is a rare Robeson pattern. I've only seen three others in all my years of collecting.

From what I can see of the tang stamp, the knife dates from about 1911 to 1921.

http://cgi.ebay.com/OLD-ROBESON-SHUREDG ... 4aa8c49be7

Charlie Noyes

[gmusic]

Very interesting knife Charlie. It kinda makes want to collect vintage knives again.....................

[Jacknifeben]

32734 Cattaraugus gunstock whittler. Just to make sure you know it is a cattle knife check the tang stamp.

[RobesonsRme.com]

Very nice JKB. Coming from you, I'm going to assume that knife has only two backsprings.
Charlie Noyes

[tjmurphy]

What was the purpose of the "For Cutting Flesh Only" stamp?

[philco]

What was the purpose of the "For Cutting Flesh Only" stamp?

Correct me if I'm wrong (sure won't be the first time) but I think it is because that blade is hollow ground and thus a bit thin for many applications, prone to chipping if it meets too much hard resistance while cutting. Some of the Case knives had "For Flesh Only" on the spey blades.

Charlie that is one fine looking knife. If my budget would allow I'd make a run at that one myself.

Phil

[Jacknifeben]

FOR CUTTING FLESH ONLY meant that blade was a spey blade and was used for castrating farm animals. In other words, no babies for this male animal.

[RobesonsRme.com]

The Robeson gunstock whittler sold for for $275.00.
I hope someone here got it.
Charlie Noyes

[robinetn]

The tang stamp on this knife is not legible but I had a Winchester that was a "dead ringer" for this one (split backspring) .