All About Pocket Knives

Ok guys, I'm hoping for a bit more education on this Robeson piece that just sold on eBay for $1076.

Is it the rarity, John Deere collectors, or what, that drove this knife up so high?

Just really curious on what made this particular knife that valuable.

Yikes!! That's a lot of bucks.

Wow, that's a lot of money on that knife. Auctions are often crazy by nature. I would think it was purchased by a devout collector of John Deere advertising items. I doubt a Robeson knife collector would value the knife that high. Maybe Charlie has some insight.

Wayne

To me, that's a fifty dollar knife, at best.

There have been more than one John Deere knife go across Ebay over the years. I generally would have noticed only the two or three that were made by Robeson, but after the first one, I tended to notice any John Deere folding knife.

Regardless of the maker, and don't ask me to name any because I cannot, all the knives sold well beyond their value as a vintage pocketknife.

It's the John Deere collectors that drove the price up on this knife and all that came before it.

A few years ago, a framed photograph of most, if not all, the Robeson company sales reps was posted on Ebay. It dated around 1900. They were all sitting on the porch of a very Victorian looking building that had probably once been a home and the large sign on the front said, ROCHESTER STAMPING WORKS.

There was a small sign on the wall that said, ROBESON CUTLERY CO. / SECOND FLOOR.

There exists an avid group of collectors of the products and memorabilia of Rochester Stamping, Royal Rochester Ware, etc, all of which originated with Millard F. Robeson and his family.

I wanted that photo badly, but not badly enough to pay whatever amount it would have taken to outbid the almost 900.00 bid that won the photo.

A knife or any other cutlery company related item that appeals to a crossover group of other collectors is more than likely to go beyond our value limits.

Whether it's a brewing company, a famous outfitter like Abercrombie & Fitch, an automobile manufacturer or a maker of iconic American farm tractors.

We will lose almost every time.

Charlie Noyes

Whoa! That's a lot of money. There's many Deere tractors that sell for less than that! I'm a big fan of Deere stuff, but only have a few knives--a rather inexpensive Case lockback, and a handful of those crappy Chinese novelty ones. My collection is mostly diecast models. I remember reading in a Warman's Guide I picked up four or five years ago on John Deere stuff that had this in it, but can't remember the price. Need to dig the book out.

Is $50 all these are worth? If so I need to get one!

As a Robeson depose' metal handled advertising knife, yes, fifty bucks, but to the John Deere community, obviously much more.

Charlie Noyes

OK, found my Warman's Deere guide. It says the knife is worth $700-800, which I would assume would be if the knife is in good shape, which this one appears not to be due to a broken blade and heavy pocket wear. It still went for at least double or triple what it was worth, which I'd say the damage makes it worth about half the estimate.

John Deere collectors aren't knife people.

I didn't look at the bids. Maybe there was a bidding war between two or three.

Tells me I'll never own one.

Charlie