Vintage Whittler Knives

[LongBlade]

Stunning Terrier Knife Tom ... and welcome to AAPK ...

Jerry - I’m with Joe - that old Waltham is a cool old whittler ..

[carrmillus]

This one came from galvanic1882 in the 2019 POS Roundtable. At first I just saw it as a piece of crap like the others he had sent. But the more I looked at it and coon fingered it, the less it looked like crap and the more it looked like a gem in the rough. This old gal is a real sweetheart.

The handles are smooth bone and I can't find any flaws in them. All three blades have "Waltham Cutlery Co" stamped on them, a Swedge (both sides on the main) and they snap like gators. The two secondary blades both have half-stops, the main does not. There are two back springs separated by a brass wedge shaped liner. There are a couple of fairly major "bites" out of the edge on the main blade and a few other bug bites. The more I handle this little 3-7/16" beauty, the more I like it. For something that came in the POS Roundtable, it's great.

.....great old whittler, jerry!!!..................... ...............

[RobesonsRme.com]

That's a beautiful Terrier.

Not all Terrier knives had pattern numbers, not all Robesons, either, for that matter.

Generally speaking, a Robeson pattern number consists of two groups of three digits:

First Number = Handle Material
Second Number = Number of Blades
Third Number + Bolster/Liner Composition
Second Group of Three Digits = The Handle-Die Shape Number

A Terrier knife, however, will have those two groups of digits reversed.

i.e.:

First Three Numbers = Handle-Die Shape Number
Fourth Number _ Handle Material
Fifth Number + Number of Blades
Sixth Number = Bolster/Liner Composition

I do not have a Robeson like that Terrier, so this will require a bit of educated guesswork.

There may be another set of three numbers below the 125.

If that is the case, then the Handle-Die Shape Number for that pattern of knife is 125.

Your Terrier looks to have nickel-silver bolsters and liners. If that is the case, the six digit pattern number for it would might be 125 / 633 or 125 / 636. They used both a 3 and a 6 to denote nickel-silver bolsters and liners. I do not know why.

Tom Kalcevic said that the "6" denoted iron bolsters and liners, but I can prove that incorrect with dozens of examples.

However, if there are no other numbers below the 125 and I realize they might be there, but completely obscured by the bolster, then we have another situation.

Robeson utilized a series of pattern number suffixes to designate a departure from the usual pattern configuration. That might be a different blade option or the addition of a bail not usually used or any other number of things.

These suffix numbers included some fractions, 1/4 or 1/2, sometimes stamped as 1-4 or 1-2 and a number of three digit suffixes, 100, 125, 150, 200 or 250.

I have no idea what all of those mean. I do know, from observation, that 1/2 or 1-2 means a different than usual master blade, i.e. a clip instead of the usual spear. I think Case used a similar system, but I believe Robeson's was exactly opposite from that of Case.

Actually, 125 is the suffix I have seen most often on Robeson knives. I do not think I've ever seen a pattern number suffix on a Terrier. Doesn't mean they didn't do it. No reason why they shouldn'thave, that I know of.

But, if that 125 is the only actual number on the knife, it might just be there to denote a departure from the usual pattern and/or blade configuration, etc.

Fascinating knife in great condition and I am envious.

PM sent, BTW.

Charlie Noyes

[RobesonsRme.com]

The Terrier appears to be 3 1/2” long.

These two Robeson swell-center jacks are both 37/16” long. I measured them both just now. That’s an odd length, so maybe they both lost a 16th inch in final polishing. Who knows?

The spear bladed knife is a 284 pattern and the clip a 285.

I have seen some two blade pens and identically shaped three blade Whittlers that have the same handle-die shape numbers, i.e. 623319 and 633319 and 622225 and 632225.

We don’t really know, yet, what the handle-die shape number is for the Terrier, but if Robeson had been totally consistent, which they were not, it should have been 285, I suspect.

Charlie

[gsmith7158]

I've had a whittler hankering of late. Here are a couple of recent pick ups.

[KnifeSlinger#81]

Some nice whittlers Greg.

I have just a couple. Here's is one; early SW 836 with all blades stamped. Well used but you can tell it's of fine quality.

[gsmith7158]

I was going through my Whittlers this morning and took some pics. Some of these are probably repeats so you'll have to forgive me for that but I do so like these old girls so here they are.

[gsmith7158]

A few more. One of these is of course not a true whittler but we all know the story on that.

[FRJ]

Those are really nice old whittlers, Greg. Worthy of being shown twice in my opinion.

About that last one with the funny blade placement .... you could probably get someone to move that pen down there at the other end
and make it a real whittler.

[gsmith7158]

Thanks Joe! Moving that pen blade is liable to cause an uprising in the 72 faithful.

[carrmillus]

Thanks Joe! Moving that pen blade is liable to cause an uprising in the 72 faithful.

..greg, that is a great looking collection of whittlers!!!!!........... .............

[gsmith7158]

Thanks Joe! Moving that pen blade is liable to cause an uprising in the 72 faithful.

..greg, that is a great looking collection of whittlers!!!!!........... .............

Thanks Tommy! I didn't realize I had that many till I got them all in one pile, and those are just the old ones.

[Mumbleypeg]

Greg that's a really nice bunch of my favorite pattern.

Even that last, deformed one! Somebody should take that one and make a nice scout knife out of it.

Ken

[gsmith7158]

Greg that's a really nice bunch of my favorite pattern.

Even that last, deformed one! Somebody should take that one and make a nice scout knife out of it.

Ken

Thanks Ken! Don't know what it is but there's something really satisfying about an old whittler.

[Duffer]

Greg, just a wonderful bunch of Whittlers Your new prize that Camillus Pearl Whittler is just sooooo outstanding—what a catch!!

[gsmith7158]

Greg, just a wonderful bunch of Whittlers Your new prize that Camillus Pearl Whittler is just sooooo outstanding—what a catch!!

Thanks Lloyd! She is a dandy. I was really pleased with that one.

[Doc B]

Just getting around, to seeing your whittler's, Greg. That is an exceptional line-up! Some gorgeous knives in that family!!!

[gsmith7158]

Just getting around, to seeing your whittler's, Greg. That is an exceptional line-up! Some gorgeous knives in that family!!!

Thanks Doc! I sure do like em.

[LongBlade]

- great bunch of whittlers Greg and cool variety ...

[Dinadan]

I was going through my Whittlers this morning and took some pics. Some of these are probably repeats so you'll have to forgive me for that but I do so like these old girls so here they are.

Very nice bunch of old whittlers, Greg. Nothing wrong with a repeat photo, in my opinion, anyway!

[gsmith7158]

Thanks Lee and Mel!

[woodwalker]

Beautiful old whittlers Greg! You have great taste!! Thanks for letting us view you fantastic knives! Even I recognized that one as a 72. Learned a lot from my knife brethren!! Still so much to learn.

[gsmith7158]

Beautiful old whittlers Greg! You have great taste!! Thanks for letting us view you fantastic knives! Even I recognized that one as a 72. Learned a lot from my knife brethren!! Still so much to learn.

Kevin

[kootenay joe]

Here is a Friedr. Herder, Abr.Sohn ivory 3 1/4" sleeve board whittler with the crossed keys logo. Very nicely made including milled liners. Likely dates to late 1800's. The seller described the handles as "faux-ivory" but the cracks seen at 2 of the end pins are typical of the real thing and indeed it is faux "faux-ivory".
This is a good example of the excellent pocket knives being made in Solingen in late 1800's to early 1900's. Note quite to the extreme level of Jos. Rodgers or IXL Wostenholm workmanship of that time period, but close.
kj

[Jdub]

Lakeside cutlery co. Wanted to post this one here as well.