IMPROVEMENT IN HANDLES FOR POCKET KNIVES, AND WHICH MAY BE APPLIED TO OTHER KNIVES
Year: 1876

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Herman Funké, Importer of Hardware, of the City of
New York, State of New York, United States of America, for the Invention
of "IMPROVEMENT IN HANDLES FOR POCKET KNIVES, AND WHICH MAY BE
APPLIED TO OTHER KNIVES." A communication from Joseph William Cardner,
residing at Shelburne, State of Massachusetts, United States of America.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Herman Funké at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 22nd August 1876.
HERMAN FUNKÉ, Importer of Hardware, of the City of New York, State of New
York, United States of America. "IMPROVEMENT IN HANDLES FOR POCKET KNIVES,
AND WHICH MAY BE APPLIED TO OTHER KNIVES." A communication.
This Invention consists in constructing the handles of knives with the lining
bent over the end to form by its overlap a bolster, and also form when desired an
overlapping tip at the other end of the handle.
In making knives, particularly pocket knives, it has been heretofore customary
to make a lining of sheet metal for the handle, and then braze or otherwise secure
the bolsters thereto. In some instances the entire handle has been made of thick
metal, on which the bolsters were then swaged or forged.
The object of the present Invention is to make the lining and bolster all of ono
piece of thin metal, in such a manner that the bolster shall lap or fit over the scale
or outer portion of the handle, thereby holding the scale firmly in place, and also
cheapening the cost of manufacture. The blank lining is punched, cut, or stamped
out in the required form, according to the shape or style that the handle is to have
when completed, and of such a length that it can be bent into the required form.
Bolsters are formed by bending the blank near its ends into the desired shape, -
which may be done in any suitable manner, and the blank is then doubled or folded
over. The scales or side pieces of any suitable material are then fitted so that the
bolsters lap over the forward end of the scales. When the rivet on which the blade-
turns is inserted the several parts are firmly united and held in place. Other rivets*
may be put through the lining and scales if desired.
As a modification of this Invention the lining may be made of two pieces, and

page_text: of such a length that its rear end may also be made to lap over the rear end of the
scale. Such a construction will bo more specially used in cases where it is desired
to have the handle ornamental.
By this Invention or mode of construction there can be made a simple and cheap,
but at the same time an efficient and durable handle.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patont filed by
tho said Herman Funké in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 13th February
1877.
HERMAN FUNKE, Importer of Hardware, of the City of New York, State of New
York, United States of America. "IMPROVEMENTS IN HANDLES FOR POCKET KNIVES,
AND WHICH MAY BE APPLIED TO OTHER KNIVES." A. communication from Joseph
William Gardner, residing at Shelburno, State of Massachusetts, United States of
America.
This Invention consists in constructing the handles for pocket or other knives
with the lining bent over at the end so ns to form an overlapping bolster, and also
form at the opposite end an overlapping tip, as herein-after more fully described.
Figure 1 represents a lining completed ready for use.
Figure 2 represents a blank from which the lining is formed.
Figure 3 represents a knife handle in longitudinal section made on my plan; and
Figure 4 represents a modification of the same.
In making knives, particularly pocket knives, it has been customary to make a
lining for the handle of sheet metal, and then braze or otherwiso secure the bolsters
thereto. In some instances the entire handle has been made of thicker metal, on
which the bolsters were then swaged or forged.
The object of the present Invention is to make the lining and bolster all of one
piece of thin metal, in such a manner that the bolster shall lap or fit over the scale
or outer portion of the handle, thereby holding the scale firmly in place, and at the
same time cheapening the manufacture of pocket or other cutlery. To construct
a handle for pocket knives on such plan the lining is first punched, cut, or stamped
out in the form of a blank A, as shown in Fig. 2. This blank is made of the
required form according to the shape or style that the handle is to be when
completed, and is made of such length that it may be bent into the form shown in
Fig. 1. The bolsters e are formed by bending the blank, as indicated by the
dotted lines near its ends in Fig. 2, into the required shape, as shown in Fig. 1,
which may be done in any suitable manner. The blank is then doubled or folded
over, as indicated by the dotted lines at a, Fig. 2, when it is ready for use.
To a
lining thus made the scales or side pieces B of wood, ivory, or other suitable
material are fitted, as shown in Fig. 3, where it will be seen that the bolsters e lap
over the forward ends of the scalos, so that when the rivet o on which the blade
turns is inserted the whole is firmly united, and the ends of the scales are held
securely in place. If desired one or more separate small rivets may be put through
the bolster, scale, and lining in addition, but for ordinary pocket knives this is not
deemed necessary.
As a modification of the above plan the lining may be made of two pieces, and
of such a length that its rear end may also be turned outward and made to lap over
the scale, as shown at b, Fig. 4, the bolster e being formed as above described. This
will be used more especially in cases where it is desired to make the handle more
ornamental, and when the handle is for use on knives other than pocket knives.
By this method of construction I am enabled to make a very simple, cheap, and
yet efficient and durable handle.
Having thus described said Invention, what is claimed is,――
1. A lining for the handles of pocket and other knives, having the bolster a

page_text: formed by bending a portion of the lining so as to lap over the scale, substantially
as described.
2. The overlapping tip b, substantially as shown and described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Herman Funké, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this 25th day of January, in the year of our Lord 1877.
HERMAN FUNKE. (L.S.)