Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1911-07-27
the fIyAl:1IKN|FE
Many Machines and Processes
Used IN Its Making.
ART IN FORGING THE BLADES.
To Become an Adept In the Delicate
Work of Temperine Edge Steel Ne
cessitates Long Course of Training
and Years Of Experience.


and Years Of Experience.
The labor of making pocketknife
is, as usual in every industry that is
carried on by the aid of great deal of
machinery, much divided. Each blade
must go through six separate proc
esses-frst. forging; second. laying
on the ''tangs," that part which is in
serted into the handle and through
which the blade is riveted; third
marking or stamping with the name
of the manufacturers: fourth. "choil-
ing" or filing a depression in the neck
of the blade between the sharp edge
and the heavier part or tang fifth,
tempering: sixth. grinding.
All this applies to the two ordinary
blades of knife. Nail blades are sub
jected to still another process-namely,
the cutting of the file. which is de-
partment of work in itself.
Should we inspect the material room
of a knife mandatory we should find
heavy iron presses, which stamp out
from sheets of brass or iron the metal
scales and lining The bright tips on
the end Of the knife, called holsters"
are pressed out of German silver I'M
der another heavy weight. which does
its work in one blow. Huge shears cut
from sheets of steel. used only for this
purpose. long strips that are afterward
fashioned under a press into springs
for the back of the knife.
The rod of steel from which the
blades are made is taken from the ma
terial room to the forge. Here one end
is put into bed of hot Goals, the bel
lows are pumped. and the end is soon
red
The skilled forger then hammers the
blade into shape upon his anvil. and
so accurate is his eye and SO exact his
hand that the blade does not deviate
a hairs breadth from the little brass
pattern that is before him and to
which each blade must correspond ex
actly.
The blade is next dipped in water
and becomes as hard and brittle as
glass. But the edges are rough 1t is
nearly uniform in thickness and is a
Ii: II gray in color.
Again the forger's skill is brought
into play in the tempering. Laying
the blades on Il copper plate over the
fire, he watches them as they change
their hue with the degree of heat. first
to straw color. then to darker straw
and now to the dark purple which de-
notes that the proper degree of heat
has been obtained. They are plunged
into cold water as fast as they reach
this point.
If the blades were allowed to remain
longer over the fire the steel would
change to a light blue and become so
soft that the blades could be bent
easily. This is perhaps the most i'm
portant process in the manufacture.
The blades are taken next to the
grinding room. The grinder must also
depend upon the accuracy Of his eye
and the training of his hand. for as he
presses the blade on the rapidly re-
volving stone. turning it on both sides
and grinding all it's edges. he prac-
tically finishes it. though afterward. in
the cutters room. higher finish is
given it.
From the wheel room" the blades
go to the cutters room. where they
find the other parts of the knife and
where all the parts are put together.
Each workman here is at work upon
a particular lot of knives. all of one
pattern. Upon his work bench are the
various parts of the knives. prepared
by other hands-the center scales that
separate the blades. the outer brass
scales of lining. with the German sill
yer holsters. which have been secured
to the ends by heavy drop hammer;
the wood. ivory or pearl scales. the
springs and the wire rivets.
Each brass lining, with it's covering,
is put in a wise. and holes are drilled
in it for the rivets A brass wire Is
thrust through the middle of the han
die toward the back. This secures the
spring. and it is then broken off with
nippers and headed down with ham,
mer. This holds the scales and springs.
Another rivet through the bolster Sc
cures one blade or two blades If the
knife has more than one blade hung
at each end.
The several parts are now put to-
gether. The next process is "hafting"
or finishing the covers Of the handle.
which is done on a leather wheel coat
ed with glue and emery. The rough
edges are rounded and smoothed, and
then the knives are carefully examin-
ed to see if the cutler has done his
work properly.
If the spring works easily and the
blades close without striking the
knives are sent to the blade polisher.
On wooden wheel covered with
fine leather the ordinary blades are
given a polish called a 'glaze finish"
Finer grades OF knives are given
.'crocus finish"--a mirror-like surface
on a leather wheel which revolves
very slowly. in order that the blades
shall not become heated and lose their
temper.