All About Pocket Knives

Who can spot the absolute treasure in these two photos and explain why it is a treasure?
That's actually not a fair question. So, I'll help you a little. There is no manufacturer's tang stamping on the knife in question.
Charlie Noyes

I saw that and figured there was something worth buying in that pile.

Decided no to bid on any of it. I see it went up quite a bit towards the end.

And yes that unmarked EO caught my eye.

You buy 'em?

Yes, I did.
Keep guessing.
Charlie Noyes

Well, Lemme see....

The unmarked tang pocket type knife was made and issued to the DOUBLE TOP SECRET Agents that were infiltrating Gaboon in 1937. The agents were also armed with Snyder rifles of questionable lineage and were wearing LL Bean Lederhosen with Converse high top gym shoes so as not to be noticed by the locals?

ACTUALLY.

I've no idea.

Clueless in TX

Looks like two Robeson knives in the lot.
The E.O. jack as Old W. pointed out and a slim equal end jack with the broken pen blade.
I can`t enlarge the pictures, so it`s hard to see much.

Am I getting warmer Charlie?

M.B.

I know there is a piece of a Robeson in there.

This is the tang mark on the EO.
Charlie

That USA tang marking almost looks like it is engraved with a pantograph.(Maybe just my eyes).I'm curious about that one with the diamond shaped shield and no blades;don't think I've seen a pattern like that before.

That tang stamp was used during WWII, several companies made them for the government on contract.

So is that a WWII contract E.O. jack made for the U.S. Army?


M.B.

MB wrote: "So is that a WWII contract E.O. jack made for the U.S. Army?"

Yes, it is. Robeson had several contracts to produce military knives during WWII. They produced several styles of straight combat knives. Their USMC early version MK II is highly prized, as is their blade dated and marked M-3.

They produced both three and four blade utility folders, and they produced these little EO jacks, just as Camillus, Imperial, etc.

However, these little jacks from Robeson with the U.S. Army stamp (U.S.A.) are very rare. In the twenty plus years I've been collecting Robesons, I've only had one opportunity to buy a nice one, and that was last year on Ebay. Someone put it up as an unmarked knife. I waited until the end of the auction to bid, but was out-sniped by one dollar. I've seen one or two well used examples over the years.

This Ebayer put the knife in with a selection of "parts" knives. Then he described it as near mint, and it certainly looks it.

How do I know this is a Robeson knife? That bone just shouts out to me. I spotted that knife in that little photo Ebay puts on their list of newly listed items. Otherwise, i would not have even opened an auction listed as "parts".

I have the knife with a Robeson stamp, and now I'm about to get the military. The auction just ended last night.

I'll have to see if some of you want the other stuff. I have no use for it, but I'll probably keep that little NO-RUSTAIN jack, too.

Oh, and there's nothing wrong with that stamp. That is a typical appearance of Robeson marked knives. I don't know what they did differently. Sometimes their stamps almost look acid etched.
Charlie Noyes

Good on ya!

I looked at all that neat stuff and thought that EO was pretty neat. I just had no idea how neat it actually was.

W

Ok Charlie,

Seeing I got it right, I want first dibs on the other parts knives!


M.B.

What do you do with broken blades? replace them,remove them,
or just leave them as is.Ihave a cattaraugus#32879 that has
great bone handles but 2 broken blades and a tipped main blade
any opion welcome .
Thanks in advance
________
Don

MB; My thought exactly. Although OW hit on the EO as well. He didn't make the Army connection, but I think he should share in the parts knife booty if he wishes.

I was going to contact you via PM for that purpose. I did not want to advertise on the Knife Lore Forum. You and Wullie can have dibs on any or all of the knives in that lot that I do not keep. And I'm only interested in the two Robesons.

Anything left after that is up for grabs.

As to broken blades, that gets us into a rather controversial topic, knife restoration. Truth is, no matter what one does to restore a knife, it isn't as it was when it left the factory.

I've never had an entire blade replaced in a knife. However, I do have three knives that came to me in great condition except for either a broken blade or a terribly over used blade.

I was introduced years ago to an individual than can weld a blade onto an existing tang and it not be detectable. He has done so to the three knives I mentioned. He kept the original tang, including the tang stamp and pattern number if it was the master blade.

I would never sell those three knives without divulging that information, but nothing would keep the next owner from passing them on as more than they actually are.

My knives are collectibles, not users. I guess such restoration/repair work would be more acceptable on a user.

Below is an example of the man's work. He's good, but he doesn't do it for cheap. This knife had a broken master blade. There was nothing else wrong with the knife. I bought another Robeson knife in almost mint condition that had exactly the same master blade. It was a metal handled Safety Award knife. They show up on Ebay frequently. I sent him both knives. He cut the blade off the tang of the award knife and welded it to the tang of the knife below. I don't care what power lens you use, you can not see that weld.

He's not a counterfeiter. He is a gentleman, a collector and a marvelous repair technician.

Charlie Noyes

He's an artist with a tig welder. THAT is what he is in addition to everything else you mentioned.

Charlie, PM me the link to that auction if you would please, I dumped it after the price left 17 bucks..

I might be interested in a parts knife to fool with. I've got a really COOL ELECTRIC congress that needs two new blades. LOL