All About Pocket Knives

Who can tell me about this Robeson, year/vintage? Aluminum Deco handles. Robeson Cutlery USA stamp.

Murph
I just picked up the same knife this summer.
Dont know much about it so I am interested in what response you get.

TJ / Gino,

According to Charlie Noyes' great website, that tang stamp was used from 1917-1939.
There are pics of tang stamps under 'History'.

http://www.robesonsrme.com/

Keith

I knew our tastes in knives followed the same creek bed. What do you think of the one you got? Good - Bad - Indifferent?

Hey, thanks a lot Keith. Neither Goins nor Price & Zalesky lists this stamp.

keithw wrote:According to Charlie Noyes' great website, that tang stamp was used from 1917-1939.

Its not that old, more like the 1950`s or later.

These are common and don`t bring much money even in like new condition.

Charlie will be along to fill in the h oles

Thanks Dimitri

Dimitri is correct. 1950's - 1960's.

They made it with the metal handle and one with rough black composition handle inserts.

I've never actually handled one. I always thought the handles were aluminum, but I've seen a countertop display from the time that I think described them as nickel-silver.

I know the tang stamp suggests an earlier date. I don't know why they reverted to an older die stamp for these knives.

Robeson made these knives at a time when they were in financial difficulty. They were inexpensive to produce.

But, I suspect they were quite serviceable.

They show up on Ebay in anything from worn out to practically mint.

Charlie Noyes

Thanks a lot Charlie.

Murph
I like ANY robeson. They are prob my favorite brand. I found this one in the summer and it was different it kinda makes me think art deco and I would have bought it even if it wasnt a Robeson. I dont have anything that is like it. How about you?

I do have a couple of metal handled knives but nothing like this. Deco is the description that came to my mind also. This is the one and only Robeson I've bought. Should make a decent carry though, if I can get the Cammie Boy Scout and Case 31SAB out of my pocket. It seems that they have found a home there.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ROBESON-U-S-A-3-BLA ... 43a3b3e6e3

Not My Knife, Not My Auction, I'm Not Bidding.

Charlie Noyes

Thanks Charlie. Luckily, I paid a lot less for the one I bought than their starting price.

I am told that back in the day before aluminum became so common it was very expensive due to the cost to make the aluminum.

Aluminum handles on a knife were the sign of a very expensive knife before the time of cheap hydro-electric power.

I suspect that was a spendy knife when it was new.

Dale

Thanks Dale. If as Charlie says, 50's/60's, aluminum would have been a pretty common material, and not so expensive then, and easy to work.

Gino - Have you desided what the handle material is on your knife? Hoping nickel-silver.

Dont know for sure but I would have to guess aluminum.

A metal detector with a coin ID might tell what it's made of.

-Ed

gino wrote:Dont know for sure but I would have to guess aluminum.

Well, I got the Robeson today and the way it is cleaning up with a little Brasso and elbow grease, I would say that the handles are nickel-silver.

Any pics of it cleaned up Murph? I want to know if I should do mine. LOL!

No, no pics yet. Will try to get some up directly. The handles are cleaning up nicely though.