All About Pocket Knives

I came across this robeson on ebay and have not seen a handle quite like this before. Does anybody know what this pattern would be called?

I call it a serpentine or dogleg Jack. Handles look like jigged bone.

Ken

I agree, Dogleg (aka Serpentine) Jack. A little fatter than usual. Good looking knife.
kj

Dogleg Jack. They have the Serpentine curve profile but are a little fatter on the cap end.

There is also a "Reverse Serpentine Jack" in which the blades are hinged at the 'fat' end.
kj

Call it what you will, but that pattern is the most comfortable, hand-fitting knife I have ever held. It just feels like an extension of your hand with the master blade opened.

In their catalog, Robeson called it a "Stag Handled Jack Knife". They referred to their jigged bone as "stag", others called it "bone stag". When Robeson used real stag, they called it "genuine stag".

That one on Ebay has a crack in the backside bone that goes across the center pin.

I no longer own this knife, but here is the example I had.

Pattern number is 622426

Charlie Noyes

Is that pattern also called a "Eureka Jack"?

I think so. Wish I'd bought one when they first came out.

Me too, Jerry.

To my eye the eureka jack is a little different. Seems to me it's a little slimmer and has a pronounced "hump" on the bottom of the frame, which the dogleg jack doesn't have. You can see the hump on the GEC eureka jack pattern picture posted above, and on the Case eureka jack pictured below. JMO - my eyes are old!

Ken

The Eureka Jack is a separate pattern from a Serpentine Jack. Levine's Guide to Knives gives an excellent description, history & examples of every Jack & Pen knife pattern. No other book gives as much information about each pattern. Every serious collector of traditional style folding knives actually needs a copy of Levine's book. It will increase your knowledge and understanding of knife patterns by many fold.
kj

Ken, not overly enthusiastic about Damascas but the rest of that knife is OUTSTANDING. I especially like the little Wharncliffe secondary blade. I've never seen that done before.

This little (3" closed) Camillus 53 has been called a dog-leg jack. I think it's a good example of the pattern.

As Ken said, note that the Eureka Jack frame has the same general profile as the Dog Leg Jack save for the distinctive "bump" on the E.J. along the back spring at the rocker pin.

Compare the OP knife. Hard to decide if it has that distinctive bump found on a Eureka Knife. Whatever. The knife is drop dead gorgeous.

RobesonsRme.com wrote:Call it what you will, but that pattern is the most comfortable, hand-fitting knife I have ever held. It just feels like an extension of your hand with the master blade opened.

In their catalog, Robeson called it a "Stag Handled Jack Knife". They referred to their jigged bone as "stag", others called it "bone stag". When Robeson used real stag, they called it "genuine stag".

That one on Ebay has a crack in the backside bone that goes across the center pin.

I no longer own this knife, but here is the example I had.

Pattern number is 622426

Charlie Noyes

That's a very nice example Charlie.

The OP Robeson is definitely not a Eureka Jack.

Charlie

I think that knife is a hybrid of several patterns, the top (or front edge) is pretty much flat like a standard jack. Eurekas and doglegs are much curvier. Very unique and creative knife.

Eric

jerryd6818 wrote:Ken, not overly enthusiastic about Damascas but the rest of that knife is OUTSTANDING. I especially like the little Wharncliffe secondary blade. I've never seen that done before.

The Case Bose Eureka Jack is a new release - the newest Bose collaboration. They are available now from the usual suspects.

Most have stainless steel blades - that's the only Damascus steel version I've seen and just happened to be the one that came up on my search when I was finding a picture example. It is indeed a beautiful knife. The only thing that's stopped me from getting one is the price.

Ken

No shirt Sherlock. I looked it up. $500 Too rich for my blood.

In case you can't resist, here is the ebay link to the one Paul posted to launch this thread:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/VINTAGE-ROBESO ... SwY~1Z-NZd

I notice that both this one and the one Charlie posted that he used to own have one end of the shield extending into an unusually long and deep jig mark. That seems curious as I would think that would be something to avoid. I guess if the shield is pinned it's OK.

Dennis