What is this?? Any ideas??

[Paladin]

In going thru the last batch of knives I bought, I found this old Robeson. At least it has a Robeson blade in it. I suspect it was a replacement blade, but the real issue is the 'handle' on the back side. It is a slab of brass that folds out from the liner and it swivels around somewhat. I have no clue as to its purpose.
I will attach some photos as this is hard for me to explain.

Ray

[Owd Wullie]

Only thing that comes to my mind is some sort of salesman's sample to show how the knife is constructed.

It's neat whatever it is.

W

[Elvis]

It's got me scratching my head too. Unless somebody real smart comes along, that could make for a long term conversation piece for us. Darned interesting piece ya got there.

[gmusic]

Not only does it pivot, it's hinged! That's what is weird!

[ole_muddy]

If the slab of brass is solid, I haven't a clue. If it is inletted on the interior I would say it's for a hiding spot for such as a house or car key. I look forward to Charlie Noyes' comments, he's the Robeson man.

[Paladin]

The brass is a solid slab so no hidey holes are there.
The gentleman I got it from seemd convinced that it had some sort of use to a person using dynamite. It is hard to visualize what the use might be but I believe it would be spark free.
I am hoping that Charlie will stop by also.

Ray

[RobesonsRme.com]

I have no idea.

Robeson made a 3 3/4" equal-end cigar on a similar frame. It was the 037 pattern. I've never seen that frame without a spear blade.

The Robeson clip blade in that knife is old. I think I've seen a similar clip in an old Robeson coke bottle two blade jack.

Long pulls on Robesons indicate early manufacture. The arched tang stamp on the blade has been dated by Tom Kalcevic in Knives Can Talk at 1900 to 1916.

Looking at the brass pins in the bolsters tells me the knife has been altered. I think the whole back half has been crafted by someone for a purpose that we do not currently understand.

Dynamite knives do two things; they cut det cord or fuse, and they crimp blasting caps onto same. I don't see that knife doing anything but the cutting. I, personally, would not attempt to crimp a cap with that apparatus.

It's a mystery we may never know. But, I don't think Robeson made it as it is.

Here are two Robeson 037 cigar jacks. The frames may be the same as the mystery knife, but the spear masters are not.

Below those is an old Robeson coke bottle stabber jack. It has a long pull on the blade and the same stamp. Wonder if the blade in the mystery knife didn't start out looking like this one.

Charlie Noyes

[Pen & Toothpick]

Dynamite knives do two things; they cut det cord or fuse, and they crimp blasting caps onto same. I don't see that knife doing anything but the cutting. I, personally, would not attempt to crimp a cap with that apparatus.

Charlie Noyes

Could the hing and the crimping have something to do with eachother?

[Mossdancer]

Paladin:
What is or what do you think the reason for the two rivets or pins just above the hinge point and in the bolster?
moss

Edit: Any known purpose for the cutout in the liner and frame just beneath the pins?
Edit 2: If you lift the handle does it swing the opposite direction and how far?
Edit 3: Your jpeg 30.1 shows the handle folded back. Any chance it could have been used for a helper for leverage when drawing the knife thru some substance?

[Paladin]

To tell the truth, I hadn't looked that over very much. There is a cutout in the liner thru which a pin from the slab rides and it limits the rotation of the brass slab. It rotates only about 1/4 of the way. I guess we could call it a 'quarter stop' as opposed to a half stop. It also keeps the slab from moving downwards.
If any of you has access to Bernie Levine it would be interesting to see what he thinks. I don't do Blade Forum so I have no way to go there. I never could figure it all out.

Ray