All About Pocket Knives

New one on me,3 1/2" 4 blade bolsterless covered backspring.

peanut740 wrote: ↑Sun May 22, 2022 6:53 pm New one on me,3 1/2" 4 blade bolsterless covered backspring.

Very nice Roger

That's a little beauty, Roger.

Top of the line knife pattern according to Levine, "Swell Center Congress Pen", pg 247.
Here is my pearl 4 blade Robeson, a Senator, 74304, 2 3/4" closed.
kj

I have a 742198 to show. Lousy under counter lighting.

Joe what size is your 742198 ?
Looks similar to my 74304. They appear to be from the same 'era'.
I have never understood why some of the old Robesons have a 6 digit pattern number and others a 5 digit number.
kj

Roland, sorry you’ve missed it, but I have attempted to explain this in multiple threads

Robeson pattern numbers should always, I said, “ALWAYS”, be thought of as having six digits.

Oft times, but not always, knives having a handle die shape pattern number, that being the last three digits, 001 through 099, might have that first zero omitted, either because the tang was small or the guy cutting a new die just didn’t see the need or whatever.

Thus, a 622001 can be found marked 62201 or a 626099 might be found marked 62699.

I, myself, always, in my mind or in conversation, automatically recreate the six digit number, regardless of how it’s stamped.

The only Robeson knives without a six digit pattern number were about a half dozen German imports produced in the late 1950’s and early 60’s and those were quite simply an attempt to remain profitably in business.

They had four digit numbers and bear no connection, whatsoever, to Robeson’s traditional pattern numbering system.


Very nice premium quality Robeson gentleman’s knife, Roger.

I suspect all the blades to be identically marked, as to tang stamp.

And its pattern number is 742079.

My knife is 3 1/4" closed.

I think Charlie explained the digit pattern at some time but I can't recall what was said.

I don’t think it’s actually a congress pen.

It’s an illusion, created by the shape of its ends, the curvature of the top and the projecting swell at the center on the bottom side, without which, the bottom of the knife would appear straight.

Not all of you will agree with that because your eyes and your brain will not allow it.

‘Strue, though.

I like that covered back spring in the OP knife, very cool and gentlemanly.

Charlie thank you for explaining the Robeson pattern numbers again. So now i get it that a 622001 and a 62201 are the same knife. I had assumed a 6th digit correlated with an extra feature like maybe milled liners, etc. Never occurred to me that the cutler making the stamping die got to decide if the knife would be given a 5 digit or 6 digit number.
I hope i don't forget this.
kj

RobesonsRme.com wrote: ↑Mon May 23, 2022 3:54 am I don’t think it’s actually a congress pen.

It’s an illusion, created by the shape of its ends, the curvature of the top and the projecting swell at the center on the bottom side, without which, the bottom of the knife would appear straight.

Not all of you will agree with that because your eyes and your brain will not allow it.

‘Strue, though.

I enjoy trying to give the correct name to various patterns. Going through Levine's book i do not see a pen knife with a straight profile (like a Senator pen) but with a swell in the middle at the spring side only. The only pattern with a swell at the 'bottom' center also has a slightly curved frame, aka "Congress Pen".
So does anyone know the proper name for this 74279 ?
kj