All About Pocket Knives

Very easily explained, actually. Both blades are missing the bronze bearings that were originally attached to the rear of the tang in a semi-horseshoe fashion.

This was a problem with "MasterCraft" knives and why they subsequently moved the bronze bearing to the inside surface of the ends of the backsprings, creating the "Perma-Lube" line of knives, circa 1940 or so.

Here's a pic of a see-through demonstrator MasterCraft showing the bearing. That's missing on your knife, causing the little dovetail notches that once held it in place to catch on the edge of the backspring, hence the several "stops" occurring between fully closed and fully opened.

I'll try to come up with a scan of a descriptive page illustrating the Perma-Lube knives and the bearings located on the backspring.

Photos should expand with one or two left clicks.

Charlie Noyes

Thank you, Charlie.
Great explanation with see through knife and advertisement.
Didn't that see through knife disintegrate on you?

Thank you Charlie

Yeah. It did, indeed, disintegrate.

Toast.

Gone.

And five hundred dollars with it.

Charlie

Here is a well used and well maintained 3 5/8" Robeson Cattle knife 632768. The secondaries are a long spey & a punch, very useful blades. The shield is one i have not seen before. Did it have a name on it that has been buffed off ?
I think this is a pre WW II knife. It's walk & talk are perfect and no hint any where of play. It simply oozes quality in a way that very few other knives can compare.
kj

Probably not Roland, but some of that particular shield had "BP" in the center, which stood for "Belt Punch".

Charlie

Thanks Charlie. Was this shield used only when a punch blade (awl) was present ? or on other knives as well ?
kj

As far as I know, yes. I have never seen it on a knife without a punch blade.

Charlie

Here is a sweet pearl folder. 2 5/8". Love the little clip.
Thanks for looking.

Joe that's a beautiful little knife. It looks to me to be just about the perfect "Sunday Go To Meetin' Knife".

You did a good job capturing some of the fire in that pearl.

Thank you Phil.
Yes, the perfect Sunday knife.

That MOP is a beauty Joe, carry her in good health my friend!

Just recently acquired this Robeson rare unique shield Pocket Eze Jack. Has dark chocolate brown jigged bone handles and is 3.625" closed. In very high end near mint never sharpened post factory condition. Clean inside and out with no corrosion or discoloring. It is pattern no. 623698.

Special shout-out to Charlie N. who advised and helped me evaluate this specimen prior to purchase. His input gave me the confidence to proceed with the purchase. The knife had some kind of clear coat on the blades that Charlie had seen before and thought this one might also. He was right and advised me on how to get it off. I will let Charlie elaborate more on that if he cares to. Apparently Robeson did this on some of their display knives. Anyway, it cleaned right up and the blades are near mint to mint. Thanks and much appreciated Charlie!!

I have posted a photo of the usually seen Pocket Eze shield most common and frequently encountered if you can even say Pocket Eze folders are frequently encountered especially in high grade condition Lloyd

A beautiful knife and a beautiful shield, Lloyd.

You probably already know that Robeson called that shield a "double bomb shield", according to my Robeson book.

Congratulations on a great knife. Great of Charlie to help you.

Lloyd, that came out better than I thought.

We should show them the auction photos.

Robeson used to put a clear coating on the blades of their display board knives. When encountered now, it has begun to peel or flake off and looks like rust damage. It will clean off with a little naptha or finger nail polish remover, but don't use that on celluloid handled knives unless you are really careful.

Charlie

Lloyd, your Robeson is beautiful!

That is a fine looking acquisition.

Lloyd, congratulations on acquiring that knife. It's a jewel.

You couldn't find a better mentor when it comes to Robesons but I'm not telling you anything you didn't already know.

Thank you very much Joe, Charlie, Ralph, QS and Phil--your kind comments are much appreciated!!

Joe thanks for reminding me about the double bomb shield. I had not remembered that so thank you!

Best, Lloyd

Here's a little pen with Abalone shield.
Thanks for looking.

.............. and I was wondering ..... does anybody know when Robeson used Abalone shields?

Thank you.

I don't believe they did.

Your knife dates from the 1950's and 1960's. During that time, shields were glued on, not pinned. I think your shield fell off and it has been replaced with abalone.

Charlie Noyes

Thank you, Charlie.
So, the glue that didn't stick. There must be a lot of shields from a lot of knife makers littering the country.
Well, it's a nice little knife anyway.

I don't usually buy very small knives unless they have an important name. An important name to me.
Here's a little 2 1/2" Robeson. It behaves like a bigger knife, sunk joints and all.
It even has a clip to make it think its big.

Very nice. I don't think I've ever seen that pattern before.

Charlie