The first Robeson knives were imported by Millard Robeson from England and Germany exclusively. This continued from 1979 until 1896 when Robeson began manufacturing knives in the United States. Since inception, the company has gone through several reorganizations & eventually ended up as a Queen Cutlery brand.
Very nice, Robesons are a high quality knife. And are becoming more popular with collectors. I've got one that the "shield" has been impressed in the handle, I read that is was done in order to conserve metal during the war.
Thanks remington collector, I have been looking for a nice well made knife made in the USA that has history along with quality and Robeson caught my eye.
They seem to be a little off the radar from most folks looking for knives and that makes them more affordable than most other collector pocket knives. I just ordered a book that I hope will answer a lot of questions I have about Robeson, here is the link to the site, lower bottom of the page:
Contributions to Knife Magazine ,
Author of "Great Eastern Cutlery:An American Tradition,The History of the Northfield & Tidioute Brands" & "Tidioute: A Town With an Edge" “The Chronicles of Cooper Cutlery”
Way to go!!!! I was beginning to think I was the only one that liked the new Robeson's. I have several. I just purchased a green split-back whittler from SMKW. I wanted to have a nice user at work. I found an older Robeson at a flea market last year. But I really like the fit & finish of the new retro knives they are putting out. I think they are being made by Queen steel Cutlery of Tittusville, Pa. My next quest is for blue bone pin-feathered jigging. I have a baby Doc in that handle and it is to die for. Not really die...but it is a very nice pattern for a handle. Robeson's Master Craft is their top-of-the-line stuff...I think, the Sure-Edge are next. Either one is a great piece. later wt3l
great looking knives! ive thought about getting a robeson stag canoe to add to the stag part of my canoe collection. they look like they are well made knives. i saw a couple on ebay that i thought about but didnt know if they were genuine stag or bone stag. maybe one day ill find out...lol.
I've acquired three of the new Robeson Railsplitter pattern knives. I have the antique green bone, crimson bone, and caramel bone. The only one I dont have is the buffalo horn and I'm not sure if I want that one. I might as well get it and have a complete set I guess.
I've found these knives are VERY similar if not identical to Schatt & Morgan in terms of beauty and quality. They're not serial numbered which is the only real difference I've found with the S&M Railsplitters, which are. They are a steal considering you can routinely find them for $60 and under, while the S&M Railsplitter will set you back at least $75. I'm guessing they will be comparably collectable, but even if not I think it's an excellent buy in the $50 - $60 price range.
SMKW sells them for $89 which is more than I'd be willing to pay.
Here is something I just purchased from ebay and now have to wait for the postman to deliver...
It's a 1910-1916 Terrier #236722 2 blade pen knife with pearl handles. Terrier was also manufactured by Robeson but with Terrier/Cutlery/Rochester N.Y. tang marks. The Terrier was made alongside Robeson's in the Perry plant from 1910 to 1916. Also the Terrier knife has a dog's head tang mark on the back of the master blade and the pattern number stamped on the back of the secondary blade.
These knives are pretty rare and anything in good shape is a major catch. We shall see how it really looks in a week or two once I get it here, I will share close up pics with all tang marks from this brand for future reference if anyone is interested.
Just because I am excited I am also including two other Robeson purchases I am waiting for in the mail, one is a Robeson vintage scout knife and the other a new Robeson Blue Bone Mastercraft with pin-feathered jigging.
Sorry for the poor photo quality, I will take my own photos once I receive them...And thanks for looking
Sunburst
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“The farmer is the only man in our economy who buys everything at retail, sells everything at wholesale, and pays the freight both ways”
I just bought an old robeson shur edge, pearl handles, lobster. One blade broken but a real unusual pattern. Anyone interested, let me know. Always looking to trade.
Contributions to Knife Magazine ,
Author of "Great Eastern Cutlery:An American Tradition,The History of the Northfield & Tidioute Brands" & "Tidioute: A Town With an Edge" “The Chronicles of Cooper Cutlery”
Sorry, wrong company. This is an OLD Walden Knife Co. One blade is broken off at the tang and is not visible in this photo. Pearl is damaged on both sides. I just liked it and thought some one else may also. Let me know if you are.
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Walden .jpg (28.35 KiB) Viewed 16470 times
Contributions to Knife Magazine ,
Author of "Great Eastern Cutlery:An American Tradition,The History of the Northfield & Tidioute Brands" & "Tidioute: A Town With an Edge" “The Chronicles of Cooper Cutlery”
I found the Robeson. It is Pearl and a whittler. I see a small crack near the front rivet and the main blade is broken off at the tip. this a suredge. I also see that one of the smaller blades isn't lining up with the spring correctly and is wearing the pivot on the blade. A trip to the doctor would correct this and provide a great knife for a collector. I will post a photo if anyone is interested. I am looking to trade for Pa stuff if at all possible.
Contributions to Knife Magazine ,
Author of "Great Eastern Cutlery:An American Tradition,The History of the Northfield & Tidioute Brands" & "Tidioute: A Town With an Edge" “The Chronicles of Cooper Cutlery”
Here are a couple pics of the Terrier knife I bought on Ebay, the quality of the pics are not too great but the knife quality is excellent. I am happy to have picked this little pearl knife up and if anyone see's one or has one to trade please let me know....They are very hard to find
Once again this is a 1910-1916 Terrier #236722 2 blade pen knife with pearl handles. Terrier was also manufactured by Robeson but with Terrier/Cutlery/Rochester N.Y. tang marks. The Terrier was made alongside Robeson's in the Perry plant from 1910 to 1916. Also the Terrier knife has a dog's head tang mark on the back of the master blade and the pattern number stamped on the back of the secondary blade.
Regards,
Sunburst
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Terrier Pearl 1910-1916.jpg (53.4 KiB) Viewed 16384 times
Terrier Tang.jpg (42.86 KiB) Viewed 16384 times
Terrier 2nd Tang.jpg (41.3 KiB) Viewed 16384 times
“The farmer is the only man in our economy who buys everything at retail, sells everything at wholesale, and pays the freight both ways”
Hello 9Ball.....e-mail me at [email protected] leaving here Wednesday morning the 12th. With all the storms around here last 2 weeks I've been working lots of O.T. However the trip is STILL on later....WT3L
YEEHAW
"However the trip is STILL on"
WT3L: I sent a message last week, check your P.M., I could not find your email address.
I will sent another to this email later this afternoon.
Later,
9ball
My Oath as an American Army Soldier did not come with an expiration date.
I love it......I have seen a copy of that exact picture in my book "Knives that Talk" The history of Robeson Cutlery. Where did you pick that up from??? If I remember correctly I believe the book even gives a date on when that fat red jumping pig was printed...
That's not something you see everyday is it..If you ever want to part with it let me know....
Thanks a lot for taking the time to share that....
Sunburst
“The farmer is the only man in our economy who buys everything at retail, sells everything at wholesale, and pays the freight both ways”
I have read about Red Pig stuff also, but never seen any. Was/Is not it top of the line Robeson Kitchen Cutlery?
Are these posters?
Thanks for sharing these images from me also.
Later,
9ball
My Oath as an American Army Soldier did not come with an expiration date.
Around 1920, Robeson started to produce a line of household butcher knives called the RED PIG brand. An oval, brass shield, embossed with a "red pig", was set and tacked into the wooden handle of the knife. Comical postcards, sent from hardware stores, were used to advertise the knives. A stag handled meat carving knife, with an ornate, cast, sterling collar, was produced about the same time. THE ROBESON CUTLERY CO./"ShurEdge"/ROCHESTER, N.Y. U.S.A was etched on the blade. Robeson also came out with ROYAL GOBBLER carving sets, consisting of a cutting blade, meat fork, and sharpening stee. A trademark (#138,098), showing a turkey, was applied for and granted 12/14/20. The turkey was etched on the cutting blade.
Knives Can Talk! The story of the Robeson Cutlery Co. page 41
“The farmer is the only man in our economy who buys everything at retail, sells everything at wholesale, and pays the freight both ways”
They have a deep etch/stamps and are hollow ground. The blades also look Stainless.
The collars appear Sterling, but I have never tested them.
That is a felt roll with slots for each with a tie-up. It also has the Robeson Shur Edge Logo.
Any ideals on the pattern name/ID?
Thanks for your time ,
9ball
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Robeson Stag Steak Knives Set.jpg (16.64 KiB) Viewed 11737 times
Robeson Stag Steak Knives Set Stamp.jpg (7.63 KiB) Viewed 11737 times
My Oath as an American Army Soldier did not come with an expiration date.