IMPROVEMENTS IN KNIVES FOR FLAYING ANIMALS
Year: 1878

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Nicholson, of 16, Colver Road, Sheffield, in the
County of York, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN KNIVES FOR
FLAYING ANIMALS."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Nicholson at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 26th November 1878.
WILLIAM NICHOLSON, of 16, Colver Road, Sheffield, in the County York.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN KNIVES FOR FLAYING ANIMALS."
This Invention has for its object improvements in knives for flaying animals.
For this purpose I form flaying knives in such a manner that the under side of
the blade may rest upon the rounded surface of the carcase to be flayed, and be
moved to and fro in a line with this surface somewhat after the manner of a plane
instead of as heretofore using a straight flat knife, working always at an angle to
the surface of the carcase. The blade is made of an oval form in plan, and has a
cutting edge formed all around it.
The under side of the blade is made concave in the direction of the length of the
oval, and is also concave in the direction of its breadth, in order that when the
knife is being sharpened the sharpening stone may bear upon the under side of both
edges at the opposite sides of the knife; a handle is secured to the central part of
the top of the blade.
The tang by which the blade is connected to the handle is for this purpose formed
with two bent or curved arms, the ends of which are screwed or rivetted on to the
top of the blade. The handle is set at right angles to the longer axis of the oval,
and is at a distance above the blade and parallel with or might be somewhat
inclined to it.
Thus the knife may readily be held resting upon the surface of the carcase, and
be moved to and fro over the carcase in any direction by the handle, and will cut
in whatever direction it is moved.

page_text: Above the top of the knife may be moveable guards for the pelt to rest upon as
the knife passes below it, so that the pelt does not rest upon the incline which is
ground all around the edge of the knife, but rests upon the guard. This allows the
knife to be moved to and fro with greater ease.
When the knife is to be sharpened the guards can be turned up on hinge joints
or otherwise moved so as to be out of the way. In order that the smaller ends of
the oval knife may not have any tendency to cut into the carcase the hollowing of
the underside of the knife does not extend quite to these ends of the blade; the
forming the ends of the knife in this manner is of great advantage..
In place of the knives being of an oval form they might in some cases be of other
form so long as they were made concave in the manner described, and with a cutting
edge all around them, and were provided with a handle which did not interfere with
any part of the cutting edge, and by which they can whilst held against the surface
of the carcase be moved and caused to cut in every direction.
Knives made as above described are especially designed for the purpose of taking
off the skins of beasts, sheep, horses, and calves, but they can also be used for
skinning other animals. They enable the skinner to work with celerity, and to
remove the skins in a perfect state without cut or flaw, and in a condition ready
for the tanner or leather dresser.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said William Nicholson in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
26th May 1879.
WILLIAM NICHOLSON, of 16, Colver Road, Sheffield, in the County of York.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN KNIVES FOR FLAYING ANIMALS."
This Invention has for its object improvements in knives for flaying animals.
For this purpose I form flaying knives in such a manner that the under side of
the blade may rest upon the rounded surface of the carcase to be flayed, and be
moved to and fro in a line with this surface somewhat after the manner of a plane
instead of as heretofore using a straight flat knife working always at an angle to
the surface of the carcase. The blade is made of an oval form in plan, and has a
cutting edge formed all around it.
The under side of the blade is made concave in the direction of the length of the
oval, and is also concave in the direction of its breadth, in order that when the
knife is being sharpened the sharpening stone may bear upon the under side of both
edges at the opposite sides of the knife; a handle is secured to the central part of
the top of the blade. The tang by which the blade is connected to the handle is for
this purpose formed with two bent or curved arms, the ends of which are screwed
or rivetted on to the top of the blade. The handle is set at right angles to the
longer axis of the oval, and is at a distance above the blade, and parallel with or it
might be somewhat inclined to it.
Thus the knife may readily be held resting upon the surface of the carcase, and
be moved to and fro over the carcase in any direction by the handle, and will cut in
whatever direction it is moved.
Above the top of the knife may be moveable guards for the pelt to rest upon as
the knife passes below it, so that the pelt does not rest upon the incline, which is
ground all around the edge of the knife, but rests upon the guard. This allows the
knife to be moved to and fro with greater ease.
When the knife is to be sharpened the guards can be turned up on hinge joints
or otherwise moved so as to be out of the way. In order that the smaller ends of
the oval knife may not have any tendency to cut into the carcase, the hollowing of
the under side of the knife does not extend quite to these ends of the blade; the
forming the ends of the knife in this manner is of great advantage.
In place of the knives being of an oval form, they might in some cases be of
other form so long as they were made concave in the manner described and with a
cutting edge all around them, and were provided with a handle which did not
interfere with any part of the cutting edge, and by which they can whilst held
against the surface of the carcase be moved and caused to cut in every direction.
Knives made as above described are especially designed for the purpose of taking
off the skins of beasts, sheep, horses, and calves, but they can also be used for
skinning other animals. They enable the skinner to work with celerity, and to
remove the skins in a perfect state without cut or flaw, and in a condition ready for
the tanner or leather dresser.
Figure 1 shews a plan view of a flaying knife formed in the manner I prefer for
carrying out my Invention; Figure 2 is a transverse section; and Figure 3, a longi-
tudinal section taken through the centre of the knife blade.
A is the blade curved as shewn on the underside in both directions, and ground
away on its upper side at an incline all around the edge, so as to bring it to a
continuous cutting edge. Figure 3 shews how the hollowing out of the under side
of the knife does not extend quite to its smaller ends, so that they may not have
any tendency to cut into the carcase. The knife may be made of any desired
curvature to suit various sizes of animals.
B, B, are moveable guards for the pelt to rest upon; as the knife passes below it
they turn on pins C, and are by springs D held in the position shewn in the Draw-

page_text: ings, lying flat upon the top of the knife blade. Each guard at its extremity has a
small pin projecting downwards from it to enter a corresponding hole in the top of
the blade, as shown at Figure 3; this holds the guard in place, and prevents it being
forced out of position by the friction of the pelt upon it. The guards can be turned
up so as to be out of the way when the edge of the knife requires to be sharpened.
E is the handle, which may be made of wood, bone, metal, or other suitable mate-
rial; it is secured, as above described, to the central part of the top of the blade in
such a manner as not to interfere with any part of the cutting edge, so that the
knife may be moved over the surface of the carcase, and caused to cut in every
direction. The handle may be parallel with the blade or otherwise, as desired.
As before stated, it is not essential that the blades should be of an oval form, but
they may be of other form so long as they are made with a cutting edge all around
them.
Figures 4 and 5 shew other forms of such knives; these forms of knives are
specially adapted for removing the skin from the more curved parts of animals.
Having thus described the nature of my Invention, and the manner of performing
the same, I would have it understood that I claim,―
First. The manufacture of knives for flaying animals, substantially as herein
before described, and illustrated by the Drawings annexed.
Second. Forming the blades of flaying knives with a cutting edge all around
them, and curved in both directions on their under side, and with the curvature
lessened at the smaller ends of the blade, substantially as described.
Third. The combination of moveable guards B with the blades of such knives,
substantially as described.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Nicholson, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Twenty-first day of May, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and seventy-nine.
WILLIAM NICHOLSON. (L.S.)