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Comment by Jan Carter on July 18, 2013 at 18:47

You know I am very interested in speaking with Fred Sampson at the Queen show next weekend.  He worked at Queen from 1948-1985.  Bet he knows a secret or two 

Comment by Ron Cooper on July 18, 2013 at 16:18

I hear ya, Steve!

So much is cloaked in an air of mystery. I guess that's what makes our hobby so much fun for folks like us who possess a curious nature and enjoy scratching and clawing to get down to a kernel of truth or meaning.

Onward and upward, my friend!

Comment by Ken Spielvogel on July 18, 2013 at 15:49

Yes Ron, that looks just like mine. Its gonna be my guess (not necessarily educated) that they are both Bone handle. A very pretty handles at that on both knives.

Comment by Ron Cooper on July 18, 2013 at 15:39

Ken, did you get that explanation. It was for a different knife but nonetheless it has the same first number -- Number 6.

Here's the description for # 6: The first digit, 6, denotes bone handles, or possibly jigged rough black plastic or jigged Delrin imitation bone, depending on when the knife was manufactured.

That makes it clear as mud! At least in my mind. Your mileage may vary?

Cheers, my friend!

Oh! And here's a pic of my knife's backside, which looks almost exactly like yours -- Pretty Much Perfect!

Comment by Ken Spielvogel on July 18, 2013 at 15:31

Great info to have on hand. Yes, I know Charlie from AAPK forum - he really knows his Robesons. I wish he would post more on this forum.

Comment by Ron Cooper on July 18, 2013 at 15:26

***The following explanation is made by Charlie Noyes***

Now, let's look at that 622056 pattern knife I mentioned earlier. The knife under discussion is a 3 3/4" regular jack knife. The first digit, 6, denotes bone handles, or possibly jigged rough black plastic or jigged Delrin imitation bone, depending on when the knife was manufactured. The second digit, 2, denotes two blades. In the case of this particular pattern, there is a clip master blade and a large pen secondary blade. The third digit, 2, denotes brass liners and nickle-silver bolsters. The last three digits, 056, is the designated Robeson number for that particular 3 3/4" regular jack.

******************************************************************************

And if you have managed to make it this far then you also deserve the link for Charlie's most excellent compendium on Robeson knives.

Click here: http://robesonsrme.com/

Comment by Ron Cooper on July 18, 2013 at 15:21

The first digit of the Robeson pattern number denotes handle material. The known numbers are as follows:
0 = Metal (Aluminum or Stainless Steel)
1 = Ebony, Black Cocobola Wood, or Black Composition
2 = Rosewood, or Walnut
3 = Slick Black Composition
4 = Ivory Celluloid
5 = Saw Cut Bone, Genuine Stag, Saw Cut Delrin, or Gold-Filled Metal
6 = Genuine Bone, Jigged Rough Black Plastic, Jigged Delrin Imitation Bone
7 = Genuine Pearl or Abalone
8 = Single Colored or Multi-Colored Patterned Celluloid
9 = Imitation Pearl Celluloid, Christmas Tree Celluloid, ShurWood,
or Gun Metal
C = Older Celluloid Knives
G = Gold
The oldest Robeson knives have green bone handles, followed by brown bone with different qualities of dies and jigging patterns, then the famous strawberry bone of the 1950's.
The second digit of the Robeson Pattern number denotes the number of blades. The known numbers are 1 through 6.
The third digit of the Robeson pattern number denotes the material composition or combination of materials used for the liners and bolsters. The known numbers are as follows:
0 = Combination Handle, Liners, and Bolsters
1 = Steel Liners and Bolsters
2 = Brass Liners and Nickle-Silver Bolsters
3 = Nickle-Silver Liners and Bolsters
4 = Not known, but seen on at least two knives, one a 234322 take apart slot
knife.
5 = Special
6 = Again Brass Liners and Nickle-Silver Bolsters
8 = Integral Nickle-Silver Liners and Bolsters
9 = Stainless Steel Liners and Bolsters

***See next post, also***

Comment by Ron Cooper on July 18, 2013 at 15:19

Ken, yours and mine each have the same numbers. But in this case those numbers only serve to muddy the waters for the purpose of identifying what handle material may or may not have been used. I'll post Robeson's rathering confusing numbering system as compiled by Charlie Noyes.

As a side note, Charlie is registered as a member here on iKC and I consider him to be the single greatest source of information concerning all things Robeson. I wish that he would lend his vast experience to our discussion. <nudge nudge ~ wink wink>

***Please see my next post for Robeson's numbering system.***

Comment by Ken Spielvogel on July 18, 2013 at 9:12

The # on mine is 642214, I have examined it with a glass and it sure looks Bone to me but I am no expert, that's for sure.

Comment by Ken Spielvogel on July 18, 2013 at 6:40

Ron, I think mine are Bone - but like you - not sure.

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