IMPROVEMENTS IN SECURING THE HANDLES OF TABLE CUTLERY AND OTHER SIMILAR KNIVES
Year: 1880

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Samuel Charles Friston and William Henry Firth, both
of Sheffield, in the County of York, Cutlery Manufacturers, for an Invention
of "IMPROVEMENTS IN SECURING THE HANDLES OF TABLE CUTLERY AND
OTHER SIMILAR KNIVES."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Samuel Charles Friston and
William Henry Firth at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the
19th August 1880.
SAMUEL CHARLES FRISTON and WILLIAM HENRY FIRTH, both of Sheffield, in
the County of York, Cutlery Manufacturers. "IMPROVEMENTS IN SECURING THE
HANDLES OF TABLE CUTLERY AND OTHER SIMILAR KNIVES."
Our Invention relates to an improved method of attaching and securing the
handles of table cutlery and other similar knives to the shanks or blades in an
efficatious manner and without the use of pins, and we attain this object in the
following manner :-
We form underneath, or what is known technically as the "back" of the bolster,
either by forging out of the solid or in some cases by casting with the bolster on
to the blade, an oblong or other suitably shaped block, which forms an intermediate
piece between the bolster and the tang. The tang is made sufficiently long to pass
through and project from the end of the handle, the portion projecting being by
preference screwed.
A ring or ferrule is made to fit over and onto the oblong or other shaped block
and also on the end of the handle, and when placed in position it is obvious that
the handle cannot turn round. To secure the parts together a cap, which may be
ornamental and of any suitable metal or other material, is screwed on to the
projecting threaded end of the tang till it abuts tightly against the end of the
handle.
The end of the tang may, if desirable, be left plain, and be rivetted into or over
the cap; or the cap may, in some cases, be dispensed with, and the end of the tang
rivetted over the end of the handle.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Samuel Charles Friston and William Henry Firth in the Great Seal
Patent Office on the 18th February 1881.
SAMUEL CHARLES FRISTON and WILLIAM HENRY FIRTH, both of Sheffield, in
the County of York, Cutlery Manufacturers. "IMPROVEMENTS IN SECURING THE
HANDLES OF TABLE CUTLERY AND OTHER SIMILAR KNIVES."
Our Invention relates to improvements in securing handles of table cutlery and
other similar cutlery to their tangs or blades in a peculiar and effective manner,
and so that handles may be built up or consist of a number of separate pieces of
the same or of different materials or substances instead of one solid piece, as is
generally the case, thereby enabling a handle of full size and handsome appearance
to be produced from small or waster pieces of such a valuable material as ivory
(for example) at a moderate cost, and without the use of pins, which are.
objectionable.
In carrying out our Invention in the manufacture of a table knife, the handle
being composed of two pieces of material and provided with a ferrule, we form at
the underside or back, as it is technically called, of the bolster, either by forging
out of the solid metal, or by casting with the bolster upon the blade, a square,
oblong, or other suitably shaped block, forming an intermediate piece or connection
between the plate and the tang, the tang being made sufficiently long to pass
through the larger portion or body of the handle, as well as through the smaller
portion or cap, the end of the tang being provided with a screwed thread.
A ferrule of a shape corresponding to the oblong or other shaped block, but of
greater depth, is made to fit over the said block, and also on to a correspondingly
shaped shoulder formed on the top part of the handle for the purpose of preventing
the blade turning round in the handle. The cap beforementioned is then screwed
on to the end of the tang tightly against the body of the handle, and it may be
still further secured by rivetting the end of the tang.
If preferred the hole in the cap may be only partly bored through, and the tang
be made proportionately shorter.
In knives where a ferrule is not required we do not use the oblong block as
described, but the tang under the bolster is enlarged for a short distance, and by
preference is square in section, and is made to fit into a correspondingly shaped
hole or enlargement of the centre hole in the top portion of the handle. This
arrangement is simply to render it impossible for the blade to turn round in the
handle, but it is not absolutely necessary, as the tang may be very securely held by
the power of the screwed cap without the aid of any enlarged portion, as above
described.
Handles may also be built up or constructed of a number of short and what
would hitherto bave been called waste pieces of material, the whole being held
firmly together by the power of the before described screwed cap or end piece.
Additional security may be obtained by the use of cement or its equivalent placed
between the joints. A second method of securing the separate pieces of a built up
handle is by screwing the tang of the blade from end to end or thereabouts, or at
certain distances apart, and to screw each separate piece tightly against the
preceding piece, completing the handle by the cap or end piece.
And in order that our said Invention may be more fully understood, we will
now refer to the annexed Sheet of Drawings, and to the letters and figures marked
thereon.
Fig. 1 represents a knife provided with a ferrule, and made according to our
Invention, A being the cap or end piece; B, the body of the handle; C, the
ferrule.

page_text: Fig. 2 represents the blade of the same knife. D is the oblong block; E, the
screwed end of the tang to fit into and pass through the cap A.
Fig. 3 represents the ferrule C.
Fig. 4 represents the body of the handle B with the shoulder at F.
Fig. 5 represents the cap A or end piece of the handle.
Fig. 6 represents a knife made according to our Invention and without a
ferrule.
Fig. 7 represents the blade of the knife with the screwed end, but without any
portion enlarged.
Fig. 8 represents a similar blade with the enlarged part G under the bolster.
Figs. 9 and 10 represent a knife made according to our Invention, and with the
handle built up or constructed of five separate pieces of material, such as ivory (for
example); the separate pieces been seen more distinctly in Fig. 9, which is shown
in section. The piece next the bolster is shown provided with a hole shaped to
receive the squared part of the tang G, and the cap or end piece A is shown only
partly bored through, the tang being shortened to correspond. Cement may also
be placed between the joints H, H, H, H, before they are permanently closed by
screwing up the cap A. Fig. 11 represents a knife with a built up handle, shown
in section, having a tang screwed through its entire length or thereabouts, each
separate piece composing the handle being screwed tightly against the preceeding
piece till the handle is finally completed by the addition of the end piece or
cap A.
Having now particularly described our Invention, and the manner in which it
may be used or carried into effect, we would observe that we are aware that knives
have been made with tangs passing through the handles, and secured thereto by
nuts screwed on to the end of the tangs and let into the end of the handles, and
also that tangs have been enlarged under the bolsters; also that built up handles
have been used secured together by pins and cement, and we therefore claim none
of these devices; but what we do claim as novel, and as the Invention secured to
us by the hereinbefore in part recited Letters Patent is,―
1st. The method of securing handles to cutlery by means of a cap or end piece
screwed or rivetted on to the end of the tang, and forming a part of the handle
proper in contradistinction to a. nut as at present in use, substantially as described
and illustrated.
2nd. Securing the parts of a built up handle for cutlery by the use of a screwed
tang, on which each part is screwed, and completed by a cap or end piece, sub-
stantially as described and illustrated.
3rd. Securing the component parts of a built up handle for cutlery on an
ordinary or plain tang by means of a cap or end piece, which shall form a portion
of the said handle, substantially as described.
4th. The manufacture of knives and similar articles of cutlery, substantially as
described and illustrated.
In witness whereof, we, the said Samuel Charles Friston and William Henry
Firth, have hereunto set our hands and seals, this Seventh day of February,
in the year of our Lord 1881
SAMUEL CHARLES FRISTON. (L.S.)
WILLIAM HENRY FIRTH.
(L.S.)