All About Pocket Knives

In the early 1900's, Robeson produced a premium line of kitchen cutlery known as "RED PIG" knives.

They had some unusual blade shapes, wood handles and an oval brass emblem with a Red Pig embossed into it and filled with red paint of some sort.

The knives were very popular.

Robeson promoted the knives with a series of postcards featuring red pigs in various comedic attitudes.

I don't really understand the allure of the cards at the time, but there was no TV, very few radios and times were just different.

No one really knows how many were made and "Ten" is the number often mentioned, but I have seen a #12, so I know there were, at least, that many.

I have bought a few here and there, but I am very picky. They can be found in a dark green and an aqua color. I don't know if the aqua looking ones are just faded green ones, but I like the green ones and those are the ones I will buy when they are available.

Problem is, the cards are very popular with card collectors and the prices stay high. A nice one will easily sell for seventy-five dollars or more.

I have collected less than a half dozen cards, but I have copied images from Ebay too.

Here are a mixed bag of the first ten cards. I do not have #11 or #12.

I will put five here and five to follow.

Enjoy.

Charlie Noyes

Five more.

Charlie

And someone listed this countertop die-cut display for the knives on Ebay. I copied the pic.

It sold for $152.00.

I suspect those two pigs were red when the display was new.

Notice the pig on the right appears to be holding a sharpening steel, and he is not represented in the ten cards above, so that is probably another card, #11, #12, or maybe even another.

Charlie

These are photos of a Red Pig butcher knife that sold on Ebay some time back.

I think it's about the best one I've ever seen. Apparently, most of the knives were well used.

Charlie

Interesting information Charlie. Thanks for posting.

I've always loved the Red Pig knives and cards. Great graphics!

I would guess that today they would be considered politically incorrect for risk of offending someone, something or some anti-this or pro-that group.

Good looking knife,and one I would find harder not to EDC ,meaning use.

Lyle, if I had any, I'd be using them, as all my kitchen knives are old Robesons.

Interesting point, Wayne.

If you kill a jihadist with a Red Pig knife, do they still get their seventy-two virgins?

Charlie

Found this countertop display.

That was on Ebay a while back.

Charlie

Charlie
Those cards are hilarious. I have never seen them before. I think you are right about the times being different then. Since people didn't have phones then, I'll bet they walked around looking at those cards!

Those are neat Charlie. Good luck at the Dalton show! Wish I could be there. Post pics if you can.