All About Pocket Knives

This is an unsual OVB marked knife...made on contract by Robeson, circa 1940's to early 60's. Not marked Hibbard Spencer Barteltt, just the OVB with a pattern number.

I have seen a VERY few other OVB marked knives from this era made by Robeson over the years, but this is the first one that I have owned.

I know that we normally think of OVB marked knives as having been made by NYK, and that is generally true. Of course, NYK was long out of busines when this knife was made.

One lesson here is that the hardware copanies would use any and all available manufacturers to make their contract knives, even if a particular manufacturer was used only for a very short time. And I don't think I have ever seen any other robeson made contract knves from this period (older ones, yes but not from the later years like this one).

A very nice and handsome knife, Steve.
Robeson sure could put a knife together.

It looks quite modern compared to my New York elephant toe.

Nice one.

I had one of those at one time. Exactly the same.

I think they stopped using that can opener in the late 50’s, though.

I think that because it’s the opener we see in genuine strawberry bone handled scout/utilities, but not in strawberry Delrin handled knives. They stopped using genuine bone in 1959 or 60.

I had, at one time, a smooth red composite handled scout/utility that had no bolsters and had large round brass rivets. It had Robeson’s proprietary can-opener, short screw-driver and punch blades. No shield.

It was also an OVB marked knife.

Not sure I have photos of either.

Cool find Steve

gino wrote: ↑Fri Mar 21, 2025 12:22 pmCool find Steve

I was fortunate to purchase this knife from Steve to add to my Robeson collection.
Unfortunately it is currently stuck at the USPS center in Indy. I've had things stuck there for 2 weeks or longer