All About Pocket Knives

This is not my knife. It was recently acquired by a Facebook acquaintance named Scott Paterson. He is a member here, but has never posted.

If I understood him correctly, he paid ten dollars Canadian for this knife.

I do not recall seeing a pocketknife marked M.F. Robeson. I have and have seen several straight razors so marked.

Most of those razors were made in Germany.

Millard Fillmore Robeson imported his cutlery from Germany and England until after the implementation of the 1891 tariffs. Soon after, he contracted with the cutlery owned by Sherwood and Bingham in Camillus, New York. That would eventually be owned by the Kastor Brothers and become Camillus Cutlery.

Don’t know the length, but appears to be three inches or so.

White bone handles.

This is what I know as a Crown patterned Senator knife.

Four blades.

Only marks are M.F. Robeson and it appears all four blades are marked.

No country of origin.

This knife dates 1880 to 1884, according to the research of Mr. Kalcevic.

What a fabulous find.

Very cool.
I've never seen one.

A rare bird indeed!

Likely not made in Germany as most German folding knives clearly show head of the pivot pin(s).
Maybe made by Camillus ?
kj

Camillus didn't exist at that time.

As it predates 1891, country of origin was not required.

It is probably English.

Millard didn't have anything to do with Sherwood/Bingham until after 1891.

He imported his knives because it was less expensive to do so.

A rare beauty and a very neat stamp.

Thanks Charlie! Great knife and great information

Awesome knife Charlie. Smooth bone like this is seen on some of the very earliest US made knives.

Here is a M.F. Robeson straight razor that would date to the same time period. Back of tang is stamped "PREMIER" with no country of origin.

Thanks everybody.

Wayne, I have that same razor, marked the same. I’d have to dig it out to see if GERMANY is on there, as I honestly cannot remember.

Charlie i am not disputing your dates for this knife: "This knife dates 1880 to 1884, according to the research of Mr. Kalcevic", but trying to understand them.
As there is no country marking, if made in a 'foreign' country then it would be older than 1891. But how can one be certain that it was not made in USA ? If made in USA the dates could be before or after 1891.
kj

I’m basing that assumption on previously published historical information, i.e. that of Dewey Ferguson and others and that data stated that prior to 1891, Millard Robeson sold imported cutlery, including kitchen knives and tableware.

If he utilized a U.S. based cutlery prior to 1891, it has not been documented, but could, of course, be so.

I had no input into Tom Kalcevic’s publications and I have never sworn to the accuracy of any of it, but I do choose to quote it, as it’s about all we have.

Charlie, thanks for your reply. Much of the 'information' about old knives is based on sensible assumptions.
kj