Old Aluminum Handle Knife

[orvet]

I got this from ebay, pretty cheap as the seller listed is as not having a name.
As you can see there is 'part' of a name: ON/RY/U.S.A.

Obviously the top line ended in ON
The second line ended in RY, perhaps 'CUTLERY'?
The last line U.S.A. is pretty self explanatory.

Does anyone have a guess for the name?

The handles are aluminum, which was pretty expensive prior to the development of a refining process based on electrolysis. After the Bonneville Dam was completed on the Columbia River in 1938 and "cheap" electricity was abundant in the Pacific Northwest, the region produced an enormous amount of aluminum for WWII.

I have heard that since aluminum handles were quite expensive, they were only found on the finest knives prior to the late 1930s.

If someone has more info on this I would love to hear it and if anyone has an idea what the brand of this knife may be, please share the info with us all!

[Miller Bro's]

Robeson
Cutlery
U.S.A.

[dhillbilly]

Seen one like it in the "All metal knives" post under Knife Lore.

http://www.allaboutpocketknives.com/kni ... &mode=view

[orvet]

Thanks guys!
I appreciate the help, and knowing it is an old Robeson, that explains why it takes such a great edge and holds it!

Does anyone have an approximate date of manufacture?

[knife7knut]

Nice one Dale! Aluminum handled knives were a premium at one time.I have several in my accumulation including a small two blade Holley and a Press Button one armed man's knife from around 1900.

[RobesonsRme.com]

Dale, I think the knife dates from the 1950's and/or early 1960's.

There was a companion knife exactly like it, but with pressure molded black composition handles.

The stamping on the knives is a bit of a conundrum, as Kalcevic doesn't even list it, most think it early as there is no "ShurEdge" on it.

I think the knives were made with the economics of the time in mind.

I have seen advertisements or a die-cut counter-top board describing the handles as something other than aluminum, either "pewter" or "nickel-silver".

Every one I've ever seen, however, appeared to be aluminum.

They show up on Ebay frequently.

Perfectly serviceable knives, but I find them esthetically unappealing. I've never owned one.

I think the handle die shape number was 750. I'll post a photo of an original of that pattern with jigged bone handles. This knife is probably from the 1930's.

Charlie Noyes

[orvet]

Thanks for the information Charlie.

I have been carrying this knife for the last two or three days and have found it to be quite lightweight in my pocket. An Uncle Henry 885UH is 3 7/8" in length and weighs 2.9 ounces. The aluminum handled Robeson is 4" in length and weighs 2.0 ounces. The Robeson is 1/8" longer than the Uncle Henry and almost 1/3 lighter in weight. I am really enjoying carrying this knife and I don't even realize it's in my pocket!

The steel in this knife is very good and edge retention is excellent so far. I'm impressed!

[RobesonsRme.com]

Dale, if you troll Ebay for a while, searching the pre-1970 category for "Robeson", you'll have the opportunity to pick up a much more nice example for not a whole lot of money.

There are, I think, four currently listed, including one with the black handles, but none are in great condition. The black one is probably the best of the lot.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Vtg-Robeson-Cut ... SwT6pV3mCC

Charlie