All About Pocket Knives

I was a little bummed to see this knife I acquired have the tip broken on it, although, for all I know my grandfather did this, or kept it like this, as a knife/ screwdriver.
It’s well used, that’s for sure.
Anything special about it, other than sentimental value?
Is the extra bevel in the large blade something done after purchase? It seems that way.

Leo H wrote: ↑Sun Jun 06, 2021 10:18 pm Anything special about it, other than sentimental value?

Well, it is a Robeson. A great name in folding pocket knives.
It's a nice little Senator pattern that would take some patience to carry.
Lots of folks would like to carry that knife.
Do you have others to practice knife repair on?

Since your Grandfather apparently owned it, I would say it has extra special value. If it was mine, I would reprofile that broken tip, give it a thorough cleaning, oil the pivot joints, sharpen the blades, and carry it with pride. I think the "extra bevel" you mentioned is the swedge on the primary blade and is supposed to be there. Robeson was, IMHO, among the best American brands ever made.

FRJ wrote: ↑Sun Jun 06, 2021 10:39 pm

Leo H wrote: ↑Sun Jun 06, 2021 10:18 pm Anything special about it, other than sentimental value?

Well, it is a Robeson. A great name in folding pocket knives.
It's a nice little Senator pattern that would take some patience to carry.
Lots of folks would like to carry that knife.
Do you have others to practice knife repair on?

The blue sparkle one in the photo, and possibly an Imperial with a MOP look to the bolsters. I should buy some cheap lot of knives at my price point an experiment on those.

Leo H wrote: ↑Mon Jun 07, 2021 1:07 am

FRJ wrote: ↑Sun Jun 06, 2021 10:39 pm

Leo H wrote: ↑Sun Jun 06, 2021 10:18 pm Anything special about it, other than sentimental value?

Well, it is a Robeson. A great name in folding pocket knives.
It's a nice little Senator pattern that would take some patience to carry.
Lots of folks would like to carry that knife.
Do you have others to practice knife repair on?

The blue sparkle one in the photo, and possibly an Imperial with a MOP look to the bolsters. I should buy some cheap lot of knives at my price point an experiment on those.

So does the Senator pattern refer to the 2 blade style, opposite, or does the size factor in to that label. That’s not a knife style I’ve seen mentioned before.

herbva wrote: ↑Sun Jun 06, 2021 11:26 pm Since your Grandfather apparently owned it, I would say it has extra special value. If it was mine, I would reprofile that broken tip, give it a thorough cleaning, oil the pivot joints, sharpen the blades, and carry it with pride. I think the "extra bevel" you mentioned is the swedge on the primary blade and is supposed to be there. Robeson was, IMHO, among the best American brands ever made.

Thank you, that sounds fine to me. It is a smaller size than I would like to carry, normally. I do like the jigged wood bolsters though.

Yes, the Senator has a blade that swings from each bolster and is a smaller knife in a equal end pattern.
Senators are small knives. I don't know where the size limit qualifies it as something different but they are smaller knives. I hope someone will correct me if that is incorrect.
The bolster is the nickel silver piece at each end and the material between the bolsters are the covers.

Depending on how you are going to carry the knife and what purposes it would
be used for consider leaving the broken blade as is. Some people may
consider having a small screwdriver blade handy. Plus that is how he
left it. Something to consider…..

Bob

Leo H wrote: ↑Mon Jun 07, 2021 1:07 am

FRJ wrote: ↑Sun Jun 06, 2021 10:39 pm

Leo H wrote: ↑Sun Jun 06, 2021 10:18 pm Anything special about it, other than sentimental value?

Well, it is a Robeson. A great name in folding pocket knives.
It's a nice little Senator pattern that would take some patience to carry.
Lots of folks would like to carry that knife.
Do you have others to practice knife repair on?

The blue sparkle one in the photo, and possibly an Imperial with a MOP look to the bolsters. I should buy some cheap lot of knives at my price point an experiment on those.

I mentioned this in another one of your post. I believe you are mistakenly calling handle covers bolsters.
The handle covers on the blue knife are celluloid. I would call it "blue sparkle celluloid" not " mop celluloid".
Also, from the little I can see in the picture, I would say it is a Colonial not Imperial.

Leo since it's a keepsake from your grandfather why not just leave it as is and keep it as something to remember him by. I have an old pocketknife from my grandfather and it's nice to every once in a while pull it out and think about him. I think those bevels on the broken blade were probably ground by him after it broke to make it into more of a screwdriver shape. I wouldn't do any hard twisting or prying with it though. Knife blades weren't tempered for that kind of torque and it will likely snap again.

Eric

Leo, if you haven’t found it yet, in the header at the top of this page click on “Research”, then scroll down to find links to a glossary of terms, and below that an exploded view illustration of the typical parts in a pocket knife. Along with a lot of other useful and educational information which will help in communicating or asking questions about knives.

Ken

FRJ wrote: ↑Mon Jun 07, 2021 1:35 am Yes, the Senator has a blade that swings from each bolster and is a smaller knife in a equal end pattern.
Senators are small knives. I don't know where the size limit qualifies it as something different but they are smaller knives. I hope someone will correct me if that is incorrect.
The bolster is the nickel silver piece at each end and the material between the bolsters are the covers.

Thank you. I’m trying to learn the terms.

Mumbleypeg wrote: ↑Mon Jun 07, 2021 4:31 pm Leo, if you haven’t found it yet, in the header at the top of this page click on “Research”, then scroll down to find links to a glossary of terms, and below that an exploded view illustration of the typical parts in a pocket knife. Along with a lot of other useful and educational information which will help in communicating or asking questions about knives.

Ken

Thank you!

ea42 wrote: ↑Mon Jun 07, 2021 3:15 pm Leo since it's a keepsake from your grandfather why not just leave it as is and keep it as something to remember him by. I have an old pocketknife from my grandfather and it's nice to every once in a while pull it out and think about him. I think those bevels on the broken blade were probably ground by him after it broke to make it into more of a screwdriver shape. I wouldn't do any hard twisting or prying with it though. Knife blades weren't tempered for that kind of torque and it will likely snap again.

Eric

I agree. Just another excuse to pick up a different knife.

Leo H wrote: ↑Mon Jun 07, 2021 5:51 pm Thank you. I’m trying to learn the terms.

You're doing very well here, Leo, pursuing these threads with interest and asking very good questions.

FRJ wrote: ↑Mon Jun 07, 2021 9:42 pm

Leo H wrote: ↑Mon Jun 07, 2021 5:51 pm Thank you. I’m trying to learn the terms.

You're doing very well here, Leo, pursuing these threads with interest and asking very good questions.

Thank you. Everyone here's been very positive and helpful and patient. It's appreciated.

I am curious, if you can answer, with the blue speckled knife in the above picture, is that a handle pattern that was in style during a certain time period? Or when did that handle start appearing? The loop in the end suggests it was late enough to have been a "keychain" accessory, but my guess is this was something from the 60s or 70s.

That type of knife was sold at many retail counters for years.
I don't know who made that but most of that kind were made in the USA. Some folks call them cheap and perhaps some were but they were inexpensively made to sell at a lower price so the knife manufacturers could keep their doors open.
Can you get a picture of the tang and tell us how long it is?
I haven't seen too much of that sparkle blue cover but they must have made many of them.
Imperial and Colonial were two big makers of inexpensive knives. Imperial made some fine solid knives in their early years.

I will do that when I get home. It should be the same size as the Robeson, just at 3”.