A MINERS KNIFE
Year: 1885

page_text: tion of such. Charges.
I DANIEL HICKIE of 23 Queen Anne's Gate Westminster in the County of
Middlesex Mining Engineer do hereby declare the nature of my Invention for
A MINERS KNIFE to be as follows:-
The invention consists of a miner's pocket knife for cutting fuse and for general
use, and attached to the haft or handle of, and in combination with, the knife there
is a probe, composed of copper, steel, tinned or nickelled iron or other suitable
metal, or of bone, ebony or such like substance, or other suitable material, for
effectually preparing cartridges to receive the detonator and fuse. In this probe
there is a notch and a corresponding notch or notches in the handle of the knife to
receive the detonator while the latter is being squeezed on the fuse, using the said
probe as a lever, thereby securing better effect in the explosion of the detonator
and charge and lessening the risks of misfires and also doing away with the habit
of fastening detonators on fuse with their teeth which is commonly practised by
niners to their own and others danger.
The invention is a knife and probe and detonator fastener, all combined as above
and for the purposes aforesaid.

page_text: A Miner's Knife with Appliances Combined for Preparing
Charges of Explosives for Mining and Blasting Operations
Generally, and for Ensuring Greater Safety and Efficiency
in the Use of same, and for Lessening Risks in the Manipula.
tion of such Charges.
I DANIEL HICKIE of 23 Queen Annes Gate, Westminster, in the County of
Middlesex, Mining Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of my said invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and
ascertained in and by the following statement:―
.
My Invention consists of a miners pocket knife for cutting fuse and for general
use and attached to the haft or handle of, and in combination with, the knife there
is a probe or piercer composed of copper, steel, tinned or nickled iron, or other
suitable metal, or of bone, ebony, or such like substance, or other suitable material
for effectually preparing cartridges to receive the detonator and fuse.
In this probe or piercer there is a notch and a corresponding notch or notches in
the handle of the knife to receive the detonator while the latter is being squeezed
or compressed on the fuse, using the said probe or piercer as a lever, thereby securing
better effect in the explosion of the detonator and charge, and lessening the risks
of misfires and also doing away with the habit of fastening the detonator and fuse
with the teeth, which is commonly practised by miners to their own and other's
danger. The invention is a knife and probe or piercer and detonator fastener all
combined in one handle, as above stated, and for the purposes aforesaid; and in
order that my said invention may be more clearly understood and readily carried
into effect I will proceed to describe the sheet of Drawings hereunto annexed:-
Figure 1 is a longitudinal section or side view of my miners knife; A being the
haudle B the knife-blade closed and C the probe or piercer partly open and ready
for receiving the detonator tube and fuse D, into the semi-circular notch or notches E
in the handle to be squeezed or compressed by a corresponding notch E* formed in the
probe C working in a pivot F in the handle A, when the detonator and fuse D are
firmly squeezed or compressed by pulling down and pressing the probe C on the
detonator and fuse placed in its jaws, and which acts as a lever to effect this opera-
tion with perfect ease and efficiency; when this operation is completed, the probe C
is then opened until it is perfectly in a line with the handle at G, when the detonator
and fuse D are released from the notch or notches E and E and are now ready for
inserting into the explosive charge; the probe C is then inserted into the neck of
the cartridge which is distended by the point of the probe C until it is made
sufficiently wide or easy to receive the detonator and fuse D, the latter are now
placed into the circular opening made by the probe and tied or fixed in the
cartridge in the usual manner to prevent their being accidentally withdrawn :-
H is a loop of metal rivetted to the end of the handle for suspending the knife by
a cord from the neck or button-hole.

page_text: The knife-blade may also, if desired, contain a notch similar to the probe, for
squeezing the detonator and fuse in the same manner.
Figure 2 is a further example, or modification, of my miners knife, and in which
the notches E and E are placed and actuated at the outward extremity of the
probe C and handle B, they project beyond the latter, when the same operation of
squeezing is performed as already described in Figure 1, but in this example there
are two additional notches H and H in the jaws for cutting wire, twine, or electric
wires (when such are used), attached to the cartridges or other wires used for
mining purposes and such like; the jaws of which can also be utilized as pincers.
If desired, an additional notch or notches may also be made in the inner part of
the probe C, and as described in Figure 1.
I would observe in conclusion that I do not confine myself to the precise details
herein-before described and illustrated on the accompanying Drawings, except as
herein-after specified, as they may be modified without departing from the principle
of my Invention.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
Invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what
I claim is.
The combination and use of a knife handle containing a knife-blade and a probe
for piercing and preparing mining cartridges for receiving the detonator and fuse,
and which probe contains a semi-circular notch with a corresponding notch or
notches in the handle for squeezing or compressing the said detonator and fuse,
substantially as herein described.