Robeson Sunfish Knife

[thewhyser1]

Hello, I'm new to this and would like to get some information on a knife I own. The markings are faint, but Robeson and Sure Edge are partially visible. I believe it is a sunfish knife with bone handle and numbered 622409. My research tells me that it is bone, 2 blades, brass bolster, factory pattern, from approx. 1911-12. ANY information would be greatly appreciated. If I can figure out how to post pictures, I will do so. Thanks, Tom

[Doc B]

I'm guessing that's nickel-silver, on the bolsters (end caps). It's pinned with brass pins and I'm guessing brass liners. There will be far more knowledgeable people, who will come along and give you a better answer; but, you have a very nice knife there!

[woodwalker]

Beautiful knife!!!

[peanut740]

Those are steel bolsters.Likely pre-1920.Robeson was the only company to make a swellcenter sunfish.Appears to be in pretty good shape.Nice find.

[philco]

Handles are worm grove bone and they are beautiful !

[Duffer]

Tom, nice old Sunfish or Elephant Toe! Here is a thread/post on AAPK with this exact same Robeson Sunfish pattern no. 622409 you might find interesting. Welcome aboard!!

viewtopic.php?f=35&t=16748&p=149864&hil ... oe#p149864

[thewhyser1]

Thank you all for the amazing information!! What a great website!

[RobesonsRme.com]

Welcome to AAPK!

You have a very nice old Robeson knife. It's seen some heavy use, but no abuse and it's a survivor, probably approaching a hundred years in age, if, indeed, it has not already exceeded that.

The blades, though tarnished, are fairly near original shape and size.

The handles are very attractive, enough so, to make the knife desirable to just about any collector of old knives.

Robeson's toenail knives were somewhat unique, in that they were swell-center, as Roger stated and they were the only company to make a swell-center, equal-end one.

Also, Robeson was the only company, as far as I know, to make their toenails using two backsprings. The large blade rides on both springs and the smaller blade on one. They also made them with one backspring. I think the single spring knife is the more rare of the two.

Here is my example, an apparent salesman sample, as it does have an inked pricing code on the master blade. The handles are kind of bland compared to some. It's the only one I've ever owned.

Charlie Noyes

[Doc B]

I told you more knowledgeable people would come along!

[thewhyser1]

WOW!!! Thank you all again. I never expected to receive so much info. and so quickly. I've spent over two years trying to identify this knife, and in one day my dreams came true. THANK YOU!!

[wlf]

We know everything, we just can't remember it all.
Welcome

[RobesonsRme.com]

Whyser1;

The word below "ROBESON" on the master blade tang stamp is "ShurEdge".

Could you possibly tell us what might be below that?

It might be "ROCHESTER" or "ROCHESTER, N.Y." or it could be a simple, "U.S.A."

Knowing what's there would help in dating your knife more accurately.

Charlie Noyes

[thewhyser1]

Hi Charlie, The large blade just has "Robeson ShurEdge", however, the small blade is marked "Robeson USA". Thanks for your help!!! Tom

[RobesonsRme.com]

Unfortunately, Robeson knives cannot be dated using the stamps on secondary blades.

There was more to the master stamp. It's just been worn off.

Assuming the stamp to have been one of the three I mentioned above, the knife's earliest possible start date would be 1911 and its latest 1939.

That is according to Tom Kalcevic, a noted Robeson collector, historian and author in, Knives Can Talk!, his seminal book on collecting Robeson Cutlery Company items. It's long out of print, but occasionally found on Ebay or Amazon or elsewhere on the internet via a search engine of your choice.

Charlie

[Colonel26]

Outstanding old knife.

[carrmillus]

Welcome to AAPK!

You have a very nice old Robeson knife. It's seen some heavy use, but no abuse and it's a survivor, probably approaching a hundred years in age, if, indeed, it has not already exceeded that.

The blades, though tarnished, are fairly near original shape and size.

The handles are very attractive, enough so, to make the knife desirable to just about any collector of old knives.

Robeson's toenail knives were somewhat unique, in that they were swell-center, as Roger stated and they were the only company to make a swell-center, equal-end one.

Also, Robeson was the only company, as far as I know, to make their toenails using two backsprings. The large blade rides on both springs and the smaller blade on one. They also made them with one backspring. I think the single spring knife is the more rare of the two.

Here is my example, an apparent salesman sample, as it does have an inked pricing code on the master blade. The handles are kind of bland compared to some. It's the only one I've ever owned.

Charlie Noyes

.........beautiful, Charlie!!!...I have 2 Camillus sunfish that are among my favorites!!......just wish I had the one I used to watch my granddad whittle with!!!........... ..............