All About Pocket Knives

I have long known that Robeson produced a couple of knife patterns like this, as such were illustrated in collector books by Dewey and Lavonna Ferguson and Bruce Voyles and they were in the catalog reprints that David Clark published.

However, I have never seen one until this was listed on EBay last week.

It’s not in the best of condition, as the two knife blades are down about 10 to 15% and the spring for the scissors is absent, as they so often are on older knives.

However, all four implements open and close with authoritative snaps and the pearl handles are intact, except for a small crack at the upper pin on the backside, lower end.

The tweezers and what appears to be a genuine tortoise toothpick are still present.

I put what I thought an appropriate bid and won it for $25.00 less than that.

I think this is a really rare pattern. Other than an actual photograph in Bruce Voyles’ book, this is the only one I have ever seen.

Tang stamp is ROBESON / ShurEdge/ ROCHESTER, and the pattern number is 743215.

The knife is 3” long.

Charlie

That's a real beauty! Nice find, Congrats!

Tom

Excellent find Charlie.

I suspect the scissor spring would be replaceable if you were so inclined.

I know a gentleman that could make quick work of replacing that spring, but he has retired and will not accept any further work.

Talked to him in Lexington last August about turning two broken pearl handled multi-blade knives into one and he would not do it.

I asked him if he knew of anyone else and he said he was the only person that could, but he was retired.

So, there you go.

Charlie

Congratulation on that very nice knife, Charlie.

I wonder if a SAK replacement spring would work, Charlie? In enlarging your picture, it looks like similar mounting.

A SAK spring would be out of place and not appear vintage.

The spring should look like this one, which is, itself, a replacement, but appropriate for the time.

I believe SAK springs are "V" shaped.

Charlie

Charlie

Glad you got it Charlie. At this point, we appreciate things even if they aren’t perfect.

Beautiful pearl.

RobesonsRme.com wrote: ↑Mon Jan 13, 2020 2:47 am A SAK spring would be out of place and not appear vintage.

The spring should look like this one, which is, itself, a replacement, but appropriate for the time.

I believe SAK springs are "V" shaped.

Charlie

Victorinox did not use the wishbone-shaped springs until 1975. A pre-1975 Victorinox SAK spring would likely work in your Robeson and would appear vintage. The last I knew, a few of these early-style springs were still included in the Victorinox spring replacement tool kit. I’m not at home at the moment—and won’t be for at least a few more weeks—but I believe that I may still have several of these single-leaf springs left in one of my Victorinox repair kits. The spring that I’m referring to is on the far left in the attached photo.

https://sakwiki.com/tiki-index.php?page=Scissors

With a little alteration, that might work.

I appreciate your efforts and await your next post.

Charlie