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 RobesonsRme.com »

I no longer own the whittler, so it's not my knife to show.

Here is the pearl handled 008 penknife and some Ebay photos of the ebony handled one. I could take some better photos of that one if you wish.

Also a nicely etched knife that sold on Ebay some years ago. I bid, but lost. Gorgeous Knife.

Charlie
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Re: Robeson pocket knives

Post by FRJ »

Thank you Charlie, for showing the pictures of your very nice knives. ::tu::
It's always nice to see the Wharncliffe blade intact where mine has been used very hard at the tip.
The etched pearl is a real beauty. ::tu::
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Re: Robeson pocket knives

Post by FRJ »

Here's a very nice Robeson jack, still in great condition. 626636
Half stops on both blades with very strong springs. 3 7/16" closed.
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Re: Robeson pocket knives

Post by woodwalker »

FRJ wrote:Here's a very nice Robeson jack, still in great condition. 626636
Half stops on both blades with very strong springs. 3 7/16" closed.
Wow Joe that one is beautiful!! :)
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Re: Robeson pocket knives

Post by FRJ »

Thank you, woodwalker. ::tu::
A nice pocket worn Robeson and it still has great blades. ::tu::
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Re: Robeson pocket knives

Post by espn77 »

I like that knife Joe ::tu::
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Re: Robeson pocket knives

Post by FRJ »

Thanks Keith. ::tu:: ::tu::
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Re: Robeson pocket knives

Post by doglegg »

FRJ wrote:Here's a very nice Robeson jack, still in great condition. 626636
Half stops on both blades with very strong springs. 3 7/16" closed.
:D ::tu:: ::tu:: :D
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Re: Robeson pocket knives

Post by FRJ »

Thanks doglegg. ::tu:: :D
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Re: Robeson pocket knives

Post by TripleF »

Look at this little beauty that came in today #672284
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Re: Robeson pocket knives

Post by woodwalker »

TripleF wrote:Look at this little beauty that came in today #672284
That's a nice one Scott!! :)
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Re: Robeson pocket knives

Post by TripleF »

woodwalker wrote:
TripleF wrote:Look at this little beauty that came in today #672284
That's a nice one Scott!! :)
I thought so too!
Tang stamp dates to 1900 - 1916
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Re: Robeson pocket knives

Post by RobesonsRme.com »

See my response in the other thread.

The pattern number cannot be 672284, because the knife does not have seven blades.

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Re: Robeson pocket knives

Post by kootenay joe »

I just 're-discovered this lovely pearl Robeson Shuredge, 2 3/4" shadow 4 blade senator, with 74304 stamped on back master tang.
All blades are marked: "Robeson/ShurEdge/Rochester,N.Y." on front tang and the master blade has been double struck. "Made/In U.S.A." is on back tang of manicure blade.
I think the liners are nickel-silver. There are 4 ease outs of pearl & liner, one for each nail nick.
Looks never used or buffed and all original to me, but i know none of the Robeson 'details' needed for a reasonable assessment.
kj
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Re: Robeson pocket knives

Post by peanut740 »

Nice one Joe.
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Re: Robeson pocket knives

Post by FRJ »

Thanks Roger.
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Re: Robeson pocket knives

Post by RobesonsRme.com »

When Robeson started applying pattern numbers to their knives, they assigned that knife the number 004. That pattern has been around for a long time.

Beautiful premium quality knife in great condition.

Charlie
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Re: Robeson pocket knives

Post by kootenay joe »

Thank you Charlie. Am i correct that liners are nickel-silver, not brass ?
Is there anyway to determine age of this 4 blade senator ? or was it made unchanged for all it's years of production ?
And finally, i assume over the years quite a few were made. Is it unusual to see one in the unused condition ? or are there 'quite a few' out there ?
kj
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Re: Robeson pocket knives

Post by RobesonsRme.com »

Roland, for whatever reason, I have been very fortunate in finding and buying similar four bladed premium quality knives with pearl handles in mint or near mint condition. For some reason, they did not get used up and honed down.

Bruce Voyles once postulated that such knives were generally marketed in upscale gentlemen's clothing stores and tended to stay in the shops and when the early knife dealers started scouring the country for mint knife displays, they just bought them all up.

Also, the gentleman that would have bought such a knife would not have abused it and would have taken good care of it and stored it properly.

Such knives were not bought by laborers or tradesmen or farmers.

Here are some of the ones I've collected.

Charlie
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Re: Robeson pocket knives

Post by Quick Steel »

A beautiful collection of MOP. Congrats Charlie.
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Re: Robeson pocket knives

Post by kootenay joe »

Oh, my ! What beautiful Gent's knives ! And even an original box & insert, first Robeson box i have seen. Looks like 2 have a gold shield. Is the bottom one the same pattern as my knife, 74304 ? I can see it is the basic 'model', the more upscale ones have bolsters & a shield.
I do like the explanation as to why pearl Gent's knives are often seen in near mint condition.
I am beginning to see Robeson as an upscale manufacturer for all their knives. Were they more expensive than a comparable Case or Cattaraugus during the time before WW II ?
kj

All above have nickel-silver liners ?
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Re: Robeson pocket knives

Post by RobesonsRme.com »

Roland, the bottom-most knife is an 006, not an 004. It is 3 5/16 inches long by my measurement. An original Robeson catalog says 3 1/2"s.

All the knives in that post have brass liners and nickel-silver bolsters, as indicated by the third digit "2" in the pattern number, except the bottom-most knife, it has nickel-silver liners and bolsters.

So, yes, your knife, given the "3" in the pattern number should have nickel-silver liners.

Those shields are not gold, but gold-leafed, I believe. The shields are not metal. They are some kind of paper or fiber composite.

BTW; if you place your cursor on most of my photos, the pattern number will show.

The second knife down has covered backsprings.

I do not have access to any old price lists, so I do not know what such knives sold for back then.

Charlie
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Re: Robeson pocket knives

Post by kootenay joe »

Thank you again Charlie for helping me more fully appreciate the few Robeson knives i have.
I have noticed that old British and German Gent's type knives are usually found in a well used condition with blade loss from repeated sharpening. These likely were not carried as gifts in men's clothing stores.
kj
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Re: Robeson pocket knives

Post by FRJ »

Here are two nice Robeson Wharncliffe knives I bought from Charlie. These knives are 3 3/8" closed.

Thank you, Charlie for the chance to buy these fine knives and team them up with my jigged bone knife.

IN TWO POSTS ......
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Re: Robeson pocket knives

Post by Duffer »

Joe, very nice Wharncliffe you got from Charlie! Hard to get anything but nice Robesons from the man ::nod:: I see one Wharncliffe folder but where is the other one?
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