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 brucegodlesky »

not a problem Charlie. Fact is, Q and Ontario had an incestuous relationship thru the years. :-)
The current CEO of Ontario was formerly the CEO of Queen......
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Re: Robeson pocket knives

Post by edge213 »

Need some help with this one.
Tang stamp:
ROBESON
Shuredge (script)
Rochester NY
According to Romance of Collecting the stamp is 1901-1948.
Back of blade 628518.
Single blade even though pattern number indicates 2 blades.
Handles are rough black with worm groove. 3 3/4 closed.
Nickel silver frame, liners, bolsters.
Life long handles? The frame wraps around the handles.
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Re: Robeson pocket knives

Post by edge213 »

How about a little help on this one.
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Re: Robeson pocket knives

Post by RobesonsRme.com »

It’s a quandary.

Allow me to do a little research.

Looks like a Robeson, but there are questions, as you suggested.

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Re: Robeson pocket knives

Post by edge213 »

Thanks Charlie. I look forward to your help. I couldn't find anything in my books.
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Re: Robeson pocket knives

Post by RobesonsRme.com »

The pattern is one that Robeson did make and the handle material and shield are quite common to both Robeson and Terrier knives, putting it, at least consistent with a 1910 to 1916 time period and probably beyond.

Dewey and Lavonna Ferguson had limited access to Robeson tang stamps and they broke them down as best they could, at the time. When, in actuality, there were several tang stamps that were used between 1901 and 1948.

Tom Kalcevic, in Knives Can Talk!, dates that stamp 1911 to 1921. I use Tom's dates, but I do not guarantee them to be totally accurate.

I do not know exactly when that handle attachment technique was initiated, but the patent information for it is available somewhere on the internet, as there was a protracted discussion re' it in Bernard Levine's Whut-Izzit? column in KnifeWorldsome years ago.

I have seen stabber jacks by Robeson, but all I have seen had two blades. I do not recall any pattern numbers from the ones I've seen and I do not recognize the handle-die shape number 518, as on your knife.

Did the cutler simply put the wrong stabber jack blade in the knife or has the secondary pen been broken and subsequently removed?

I don't know.

The knife is, most likely, a Robeson, but whether or not it left the factory as it is now or not is a question I cannot answer.

Here is a bone handled two blade coke bottle stabber jack photo that I took off the internet, but there was no published info on the pattern number, nor a photo of the back of the blades. Given that impressive long pull, that knife probably pre-dates yours.

Here, also, is a photo of a CARPENTER'S CHOICE three blade with the patented handle attachment technique. Given the lack of a bottom bolster on your knife, it needed a pin in that location.

Charlie
Attachments
RobesonStabber.jpg
138433B.jpg
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Re: Robeson pocket knives

Post by edge213 »

Thanks Charlie.
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Re: Robeson pocket knives

Post by FRJ »

Here's a nice little Robeson jack. So well built. 3" closed. 62226

Thanks for looking.
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Re: Robeson pocket knives

Post by royal0014 »

Nice 'un Joe .... love that bone !
::drool::
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Re: Robeson pocket knives

Post by FRJ »

Thank you, Chris. ::tu::
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Re: Robeson pocket knives

Post by RobesonsRme.com »

Beautiful older knife Joe.

These are quite common from the Strawberry Bone era, 1948 to 1959 or 60. Much less common, I think, from Pre-WWII time.

Some consider these boy's knives and Robeson included one in a Father and Son set they marketed in the 1950's.

I've never seen one with a bail, but if one showed up, I wouldn't be surprised.

viewtopic.php?f=93&t=53368

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Re: Robeson pocket knives

Post by FRJ »

Thank you, Charlie.
That is an interesting connection to the Father and Son set.
My knife has a cap so I assume it wouldn't fit the set.
Those are very nice knives you showed in the thread and a unique knife set.
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Re: Robeson pocket knives

Post by FRJ »

Here is another fine Robeson knife that was brought to our attention by Charlie the other day.

Robesons neat old bolster lock fishing knife. I'm happy to say I now own two of these.

In the picture of the two knives together the one on top is the one I just got.
It doesn't have a half stop. The bottom knife does.

Thanks for looking
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Re: Robeson pocket knives

Post by galvanic1882 »

Man those are nice!!
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Re: Robeson pocket knives

Post by ScoutKnives »

Awesome and those handles :shock:
Always looking for Mint pre war scout knives
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Re: Robeson pocket knives

Post by wlf »

Wow Joe. Robeson sure had some beautiful bone, terrific knives.
I buy roosters combs and farmers..........................................................jack knives [/b]

GEC SFOs and others at LICK CREEK CUTLERY- www.allaboutpocketknives.com/wlf

May the Father and Son bless
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Re: Robeson pocket knives

Post by RobesonsRme.com »

I thought the handles on your newer knife were just simply awesome. Some of the nicest jigged bone I have ever seen. Hope they are as nice in hand as they looked.

Glad you got that knife.

There was another bolster-lock fish knife on Ebay a couple of weeks ago. The blades looked good in the photos, but one handle was broken straight across at about the center pen.

The example I have has no half stop.

Be careful with those knives, because when the blade is open and the locked deployed centrally, the bone overlying it has no support and will break if pressed by your thumb or fingers. I have seen several bolster-lock knives in that condition.

Charlie
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Re: Robeson pocket knives

Post by FRJ »

Thank you, Mike and ScoutKnives.

Thank you Lyle and Charlie.

The handles on the newer knife are beautiful. It's amazing that someone jigged them in that way. They look fluid.

That is a weak spot on the covers at the locking point. I am very careful of it.

This locking mechanism must have been a real test and challenge for Robeson Cutlery. It would be interesting to know how many were made.
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Re: Robeson pocket knives

Post by FRJ »

I just got this little 3 3/8" jack. Hasn't been sharpened.
Odd thing is there is no model number on the pile side tang.
I wonder if this knife was considered a second because the pin spinner slipped off the cover/spring retainer pin both front and back.
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Re: Robeson pocket knives

Post by kootenay joe »

Wow, what a beautiful knife ! You regularly find top examples.
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Re: Robeson pocket knives

Post by edge213 »

Joe, very nice.
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Re: Robeson pocket knives

Post by jerryd6818 »

I see I neglected posting this Queen made Robeson Doc in this thread. Thanks Randy (#goldpan). Found it in his AAPK Store. It's pristine. I just love it.
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Re: Robeson pocket knives

Post by luckydog64 »

Nice looking knives Joe and Jerry. Here is a couple I posted elsewhere.
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Re: Robeson pocket knives

Post by luckydog64 »

Three I haven't posted.
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Re: Robeson pocket knives

Post by peanut740 »

Robeson Suredge pocketeze 622602 fancy Jack.Etched "Hickory Whittler".
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