Reply by Sue OldsWidow on December 24, 2012 at 21:07

ROBESON CUTLERY
The following table is provided to describe manufacturing dates and tang marks;
M.F. ROBESON
1880-1884
ROBESON/CUTLERY Co, ENGLAND
1885-1890
ROBESON/CUTLERY/Co, ROBESON/CUT. Co,
PREMIER, R.C. Co, GERMANY
1891-1895
THE/ROBESON/CUT. CO/ROCHESTER, N.Y.
1896-1899
THE R.C. CO./ROCHESTER
1896-1899
ROBESON/CUTLERY
1896-1899
ROBESON/CO./CUTLERY
1900-1916
R.C./CO.
1900-1939
TERRIER/CUTLERY/ROCHESTER, N.Y.
1910-1916
MADE/IN U.S.A.
1911-1919
ROBESON/ShurEdge/U.S.A.
1911-1921
ROBESON/DEMONSTRATOR
1911-1939
ROBESON/ShurEdge/U.S.A.
1916-1939
ROBESON/U.S.A./CUTLERY(Master Blade)
1917-1939
ROBESON/CUTLERY/ROCHESTER
1917-1939
ROBESON/ShurEdge/ROCHESTER
1922-1939
ROBESON/U.SA./CUTLERY(Secondary Blade)
1922-1939
ROBESON/SHUREDGE/U.S.A.
1940-1964
ROBESON/ (Pattern Number)/U.S.A.
1965-1977
Other less known Robeson tang marks and manufacturing dates are:
GENESEE
1891-1895
FILLMORE/CUTLERY/Co
1891-1895
PERRYCUTL.CO./PERRY,N.Y.
1919-1929

Robeson Numbering System
Robeson pocket knives were stamped with a five digit pattern number, sometimes with a letter prefix or six digit number from about 1915 to 1999. The first digit signified the handle material; the second digit, the number of blades; the third digit, the Liner and Bolster material; and the remaining two or three digits, the Factory Pattern Number.
First number or Letter- Handle Material:
0 – Metal (Aluminum, Stainless Steel)
1 – Black Cocobola Wood, Black Composition
2 - Rosewood, Walnut
3 – Polished Black Composition
4 – Ivory Celluloid
5 – Saw Cut Bone, Gold Filled Metal, Stag, Saw Cut Delrin
6 – Bone, Rough Jigged Black Plastic, Jigged Delrin
7 – Pearl, Abalone
8 – Multi-Colored Celluloid, Single Color Celluloid
9 – French Pearl Celluloid, Christmas Tree Celluloid, ShurWood, Gun Metal
C – Celluloid
G – Gold
Second Number – Number of Blades
Third Number – Liner and Bolster Material:
0 – Combination Handle, Liner and Bolster
1 – Steel Liner and Bolster
2 – Brass Linder and Bolster
3 – Nickel Silver Liner and Bolster
5 – Special
6 – Iron Liner and Bolster or Iron Bolster
8 – Steel Frame Liner and Bolster
9 – Stainless Steel Liner and Bolster
Fourth, Fifth and Sixth Numbers – Factory Pattern Number:
Two or three digits indicating knife model.
½ Suffix:
Usually indicates a modification to an already introduced pattern. Examples are the addition of a bail or change from a clip to a spear blade