"Old Knives"

[waynorth]

Charlie N, I have a simple binocular microscope that tells me right away if a blade has been welded. If you could borrow one for 60 seconds, there is no mistaking a welded blade at 40x to 80x magnification! The texture change is quite dramatic under those conditions.

 

[theblindog]

my dad's knives

falah

 

[tleav61]

I have seen this picture before. As a matter of fact, I use to have it as my wallpaper.
Don't remember where I saw it, but looks like I can save it and use again.
Thanks for sharing.

 

[theblindog]

I have seen this picture before. As a matter of fact, I use to have it as my wallpaper.
Don't remember where I saw it, but looks like I can save it and use again.
Thanks for sharing.

my pic?

 

[CNoyes]

Charlie C.:
I have an illuminated binocular magnifier on a stand. It's an old piece of lab equipment. It has a fixed focal length, but once I get a knife in focus, it's really impressive. I'm not sure of the magnification, but it is significant.
I've never looked at that particular knife under it though. Never thought I had a reason to do so. Until now, that is.
I do not have the capability to photogragh through it, though.
I'll let you know what I discover this weekend.

 

[bakerg2g]

Here is my Challenge Cut. Co. Tear Drop Jack!
Both Blades are full! Great Snap on both blades,
You can't see it to good from my awful pics, But
Challenge is still written on the Blade! It has some
great swedges and the Bone is Great!!
I tried to find the exact year, But I haven't found it
yet! But it's a great Vintage Challenge!
Hope you like it! Sorry about the Pics!!


Jason

 

[CNoyes]

Jason, that is a nice looking old jack. What is its closed length?


Fantastic rock, too.

 

[bakerg2g]

Jason, that is a nice looking old jack. What is its closed length?


Fantastic rock, too.

Charlie, Thank you Sir! It's 3 1/2 closed.
Thanks for sharing all of your Awesome knives
with us! I've enjoyed it! Keep'em coming!


Jason

 

[CNoyes]

Here are some Robeson Congress pattern knives.

This first one I showed above in the pen knife post.
It's a 2 7/16" pearl handled two blade knife.
Pattern number 722159.
Excellent condition.

This brown bone handled knife is 3 1/8" long.
Pattern Number 623777.
Excellent unsharpened condition.

This 3 1/2" brown bone knife has a nice bow shield.
Pattern number 622193.
Condition is excellent.

This is a nice four blade Congress with a sheepfoot, spear and two pen blades.
Green bone handles with bow shield. It's 3 1/2" long.
Pattern number 642453.
Excellent unsharpened condition.

This interesting old knife has rounded bolsters.
Sheepfoot, spear, pen and coping blades.
3 3/4" long. It has brown bone handles and a "PocketEze" shield.
Pattern number 642431.
Very good conditon.

This big Congress is 4 1/8" long.
Dark brown bone handles and fancy shield.
Two sheepfoots and two pens.
Pattern number 642208.
Excellent condition.

This four blade Congress has jigged black composition handles.
It has an impressed ROBESON "shield". This knife was made circa WWII
when metal was not readily available for shielding knives.
It is 3 3/4" long.
Pattern number 642088.
Excellent unsharpened condition.

I'm going to step out on a limb and show a few strawberry bone handled
congress knives.
This handle material was used between about 1948 and 1960, so
strawberry bone handled knives are now fifty or more years of age.
Here is the post-War version of the knife above with strawberry bone
handles.
Two sheepfoots and two pens.
It's 3 3/4" long.
Excellent condition.

This sweet little 3 1/8" strawberry bone handled Congress has
sheepfoot, spear, pen and coping blades.
Pattern number 642777.
Excellent unsharpened condition.

This is a two blade version of the 088 Congress.
It has strawberry bone handles. It is 3 3/4" long.
Pattern number 622088.
I bought this knife brand new in the mid to late 1950's and I carried it for
several years. I was a teenager at the time.
So, it's only in very good condition.

This little strawberry bone handled knife is 3" long.
Sheepfoot and pen blades.
Pattern number 622177.
Excellent unsharpened condition.

I'd like to post some more strawberry bone handled Robesons unless you guys
think they're not old enough for this "Old Knives" thread...........

 

[malextwo]

Tho not the biggest strawberry fan I really like the 642777 for its size as well as four different blades. Seems Case is the only current maker of the Congress pattern whose blades are all different - TIMBW...

Mike

 

[Will Power]

I admire those Half Congress knives a lot, the Robeson you were carrying CN, is a really nicely worn/cared for example.

The rounded bolster full Congress is particularly interesting, very elegant shape to that interpretation.

 

[JatMat]

Bring on the strawberry, I am loving the show.

 

[CNoyes]

WillGoy;
I was not even aware that the round bolstered pattern existed until someone walked into a knife show in Chattanooga with an ivoroid handled version. It changed hands three times before I even knew it was in the building. Priced out of my range by then.

The next one I saw had brown bone handles like this one, but was in almost mint condition. Gordon White had it, then Joe Seale. Again, beyond my means.

I finally found this one and am happy to have it.

JatMat;
That's a nice 195 physicians knife, No fading on those handles.

 

[Will Power]

Thanks for the additional info. It's a most impressive knife, high time somebody put their hand to making the pattern again. It would lurk in the pocket supremely:thumbup:

 

[CNoyes]

There were some German made round bolstered congress patterns for a while. That was back in the 90's I think.
Some were imported by Rigid. Maybe Henckels, as well. They had stag handles.

 

[waynorth]

There were some German made round bolstered congress patterns for a while. That was back in the 90's I think.
Some were imported by Rigid. Maybe Henckels, as well. They had stag handles.

A raft of round bolstered Congress knives came out of Jim Parker's operations 20 or so years ago.

Please continue with the Strawberries, Charlie!! It's like a most welcome history lesson!! I have a couple of Barlows with sawcut strawberry, but I had no idea there was an "Era of Strawberry"!

 

[CNoyes]

As I said earlier, Robeson began using the strawberry red genuine bone
handles in 1948. They stopped using it about 1959 or 1960 and replaced it
with a strawberry colored Delrin in 1960.

So, I guess we could surmise that the knives were produced for just twelve
years. And, the knives are now at least fifty to sixty-two years old.

Robeson used the digit "5" in the first position of the pattern number on
Barlow pattern knives.

Here is a single blade sheepfoot Barlow with smooth bone handles.
It's 3 3/8" long.
Pattern number 512176.
Excellent unsharpened condition.

I bought this five inch Daddy Barlow at the same time I bought the 088 two
blade half congress knife above, about 1958, give or take a year. I carried
this one around for a bit, too.
Smooth bone handles.
Pattern number 512224.
Excellent condition.

This toothpick is five inches long.
Jigged bone handles and oval ROBESON shield.
Pattern number 612407.
Excellent unsharpened condition.

This two blade Barlow has a master spear and secondary pen blades.
Smooth bone handles.
3 3/8" long.
Pattern number 521168.
Excellent unsharpened condition.

This two blade Barlow came off a display board. Note the red line on the handle.
Master sheepfoot and secondary pen blades.
3 3/8" long.
Pattern number 521178.
Excellent unsharpened condition.

This Barlow has a master clip and secondary pen blades. Smooth bone
handles.
3 3/8" long.
Pattern number 521179.
Excellent unsharpened condition.

This razor or one-armed-man Barlow has the master blade with the cut-out
to snag a pocket for opening.
Smooth bone handles.
3 3/8" long.
Pattern number 521199.
Excellent unsharpened condition.

This little two blade jack has jigged bone handles, clip and pen blades.
Pattern number 622026.
Excellent unsharpened condition.

This Easy Open jack is 3 5/8" long.
Jigged bone handles and oval ROBESON shield.
Pattern number 622027.
Excellent unsharpened condition.

This is a regular jack.
Jigged bone handles and oval ROBESON shield.
3 3/4" long.
Pattern number 622056.
Excellent unsharpened condition.

This slim trapper is quite similar to the Case 048 pattern.
Jigged bone handles and oval ROBESON shield.
Long clip and long skinning blades.
4" long.
Pattern number 622061.
Excellent unsharpened condition.

This large English jack is 4 1/2" long.
It has jigged bone handles and oval ROBESON shield.
Master clip and large pen blades.
Pattern number 622119.
Excellent unsharpened condition.

Another large English jack. Also 4 1/2" long.
Jigged bone handles and oval ROBESON shield.
Master spear and large pen.
Pattern number 622151.
Excellent unsharpened condition.

Here's my Physician's Knife. I think JatMat's is prettier.
Jigged bone handles and oval ROBESON shield.
3" long. Master spear and pen blades.
Pattern number 622195.
Excellent unsharpened condition.

This two blade equal-end Senator is 3 3/8" long.
Master spear and pen blades.
Jigged bone handles and oval ROBESON shield.
Pattern number 622253.
Excellent unsharpened condition.

This little equal-end pen is 3" long.
Master spear and pen blades.
Jigged bone handles and oval ROBESON shield.
Pattern number 622319.
Excellent unsharpened condition.

This little regular jack is 2 7/8" long.
Master spear and pen blades.
Jigged bone handles and oval ROBESON shield.
Pattern number 622331.
Excellent unsharpened condition.

This large two blade Trapper is 4 1/8" long.
Master clip and large skinning blades.
Jigged bone handles and oval ROBESON shield.
Pattern number 622382.
Excellent unsharpened condition.

This is a 3 3/8" serpentine jack.
Master clip and pen blades.
Jigged bone handles and oval ROBESON shield.
Pattern number 623480.
Excellent unsharpened condition.

This is the same pattern knife, but with a patented tungsten carbide
coating on the edge of the master clip blade.
The blade face is etched, ROBESON "FLAME EDGE" U.S.A.
Jigged bone handles and oval ROBESON shield.
3 3/8" long.
Pattern number 623480-TC.
Excellent unsharpened condition.

This is Robeson's version of a Muskrat.
It is 3 7/8" long.
Jigged bone handles and oval ROBESON shield.
Two long clip blades.
Pattern number 623595.
Excellent unsharpened condition.

This little 3" whittler is like the 319 pen knife above.
Master clip and two pen blades.
Jigged bone handles and oval ROBESON shield.
Pattern number 632319.
Excellent unsharpened condition.

This is a serpentine junior stock knife.
It is 3 3/8" long.
Master clip, sheepfoot and spey blades.
Jigged bone handles and oval ROBESON shield.
Pattern number 633278.
Excellent unsharpened condition.

Here's the same knife with the tungsten carbide coating and the
ROBESON "FLAME EDGE" U.S.A. etch.
Pattern number 633278-TC.
Excellent unsharpened condition.

This is a hump back junior stockman. It is also 3 3/8" long.
Master clip, sheepfoot and spey blades.
The master clip also has the tungsten carbide coating and
ROBESON "FLAME EDGE" U.S.A. etch.
Jigged bone handles and oval ROBESON shield.
Pattern number 633295-TC.
Excellent unsharpened condition.

This is an equal-end stock knife.
Jigged bone handles and oval ROBESON shield.
Master clip, sheepfoot and spear blades.
3 1/2" long.
Pattern number 633865.
Excellent unsharpened condition..

 

[Pipeman]

I bought this little knife on Ebay one night without having a clue as to what it was other than a quill knife. The seller described the arched cutout in the handle as a nail nick and having never seen anything like it I wanted to check it out. The knife is a Rodgers from either the William the 4th or George the 3rd period 1820 to 1835ish, the handles are ivory, brass liners. The master blade has a nail file in front of which is a short section (under the nail nick) that is ground one side then a second plunge and a normal blade to the tip.
I posted this knife of Mick Wellingtons thread on old Sheffield knives and until that time never noticed that the "nail nick" in the scale went right through the liner as well. Mick described it as very rare and it turns out that the "nail nick" is actually a quill guillotine for cutting the tip off the quill after the angle cut had been done with the small quill blade. Mick said he had seen only one other. Hope you find the old wreck interesting, still not in bad condition for a knife close to 200 years old. Sorry the pics are not better, hope my description helps.

Best regards

Robin

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[waynorth]

A mouthwatering basket of strawberries, Charlie! Real nice minty collection. I like your use of Bernie Levine's terminology for the condition of the knives. It seems to make more sense to me.
Robeson was an innovative company, trying various technologies to make the knives better, and more attractive.
I think by far their best move was the "pocket eze" approach, sinking the tangs and so forth, to keep the exteriors smooth and friendly. That and some of the beautiful older jigging on the bone.
Thanks for displaying your knives for us - could there possibly be more???

 

[waynorth]

We were both writing at the same time, Robin. Didn't mean to skip by your interesting quill knife. I remember it well from Mick's thread. The knife is an interesting and rare beauty!