IMPROVEMENTS IN KNIVES AND FORKS WHOSE HANDLES ARE NOT METALLIC
Year: 1856

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Christophers, of Heavitree, in the County of
Devon, formerly a Merchant, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
KNIVES AND FORKS WHOSE HANDLES ARE NOT METALLIC."
Sealed the 2nd December 1856, and dated the 4th June 1856.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Christophers at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 4th
June 1856.
I, JOHN CHRISTOPHERS, of Heavitree, in the County of Devon, formerly a
Merchant, do hereby declare the nature of the Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS
IN KNIVES AND FORKS WHOSE HANDLES ARE NOT METALLIC," to be as follows:-
The improvements relate only to knives and forks whose handles have a hole
drilled or bored into them longitudinally to receive the tang, and the improve-
ments effectually prevent the tang from being loosened from its fixed position
in the handle by hot water or other wear and tear cause; and also effectually
prevent the tang from turning round or twisting in the handle, and likewise
materially prevent the handle from splitting; all which I accomplish by either
of the following means, without the necessity of using resin or cement.
First, by tenoning the small end (that is, the bolster end,) of the handle into a
socket formed in the bolster, and then fastening the tang to the handle by insert-
ing a pin in a hole drilled crosswise (that is, transversely of the longitudinal hole,)
through the handle and through a part of the tang distant from the bolster.
In order to save labour the bolster may be of a circular form, and so may the

page_text: socket, which, for a dinner knife, I prefer to be about one-eighth of an inch
deep.
Second, by fixing a stout metal band around the junction of the bolster with
the handle, letting the band embrace a portion of both bolster and handle
(previously forming a shoulder on each), and then fastening the tang to the
handle by inserting a pin in a hole drilled crosswise through the handle and
through a part of the tang distant from the bolster. The aperture of the band
should be exactly the size to admit the end of the bolster and the small end of
the handle; and for a dinner knife I prefer the substance of the band to be
about a quarter of an inch lengthwise of the blado and handle, and about
three-sixteenths of an inch in thickness, thereby diminishing the usual size
of the bolster in balance-handled knives and forks.
Third, by placing a very stout ferrule round the small end of the handle,
abutting the bolster against the ferrule, and then fastening the tang to the
handle by inserting a pin in a hole drilled crosswiso through the handle and
through a part of the tang distant from the bolster. The aperture of the
ferrule for about one half of its length may be made sufficiently large to receive
the small end of the handle, and the other half only just the size to admit the
tang, and in that case the bolster need not be made so stout as usual.
To prevent the tangs from becoming rusty and discolouring the handle, they
should be painted white and smeared with tallow before their insertion into the
handles.
The pin which secures the tang to the handle should be of metal, ivory,
horn, whalebone, or any suitable material, and it is preferable for the pin hole
to be in the same direction as from the edge to the back of the knife.
For carving forks it may be useful to fix a ruffle or collar, like the ruffle
round oyster knives, but as that is an old Invention, of course it is not suggested
as anything new.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said John Christophers in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 30
3rd December 1856.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JOHN
CHRISTOPHERS, of Heavitree, in the County of Devon, formerly a Merchant,
send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters 3
Patent. bearing date the Fourth day of June, in the year of our Lord One

page_text: thousand eight hundred and fifty-six, in the nineteenth year of Her reign, did,
for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the said John
Christophers, Her special licence, that I, the said John Christophers, my
executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said John
Christophers, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any time
agreo with, and no others, from time to time and at all times thereafter
during the term therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use,
exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland,
the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN
KNIVES AND FORKS WHOSE HANDLES ARE NOT METALLIC," upon the condition
(amongst others) that I, the said John Christophers, my executors or adminis-
trators, by an instrument in writing under my, or their, or one of their lands
and seals, should particularly describo and ascertain the nature of the said
Invention, and in what manner the same was to be performed, and cause the
same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office within six calendar months
next and immediately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said John Christophers, do hereby declare
the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement thereof, that is to say :-
This Invention has for its object such improvements in table knives and
forks as shall greatly increase their strength and durability.
The improvements relate only to knives and forks whose handles have a hole
drilled or bored into them longitudinally to receive the tang, and the improve-
ments materially prevent the handle from splitting, and at the same time
prevent the tang from being loosened from its fixed position in the handle by
hot water or other wear-and-tear cause; and also prevent the tang from
turning round or twisting in the handle; all which may be accomplished
without the necessity of using resin or cement by either of the following
means, viz.,
First, by tenoning or fitting the small end (that is, the bolster end,) of the
handlo of a knife or fork into a socket or groove formed in the handle end
of the bolster around the tang, and then fastening the tang to the handlo
by inserting a pin in a hole drilled crosswise (that is, transversely of the
longitudinal hole,) through the handle and tang at about the middle of the
handle.
In order to save labour the bolster may be of a circular shape, and so may
the socket or groove, which, for a dinner knife, may be about one-twelfth of

page_text: an inch deep; or the bolster may be the usual shape, forming in it a circular
or other shaped socket or groove to receive the small end of the handle. The
socket or groove may be formed in the bolster by turning or cutting, or
otherwise, as may be most desirable.
Second, by fitting the small end of the handle into a metal band or cap,
somewhat of the form of an umbrella cap, though sufficiently stout to become
a bolster for balance-handled knives and forks, letting the bolster abut against
the hole in the small end of the cap, and then fastening the tang to the handle
by inserting a pin in a hole drilled crosswise through the handle and tang at
about the middle of the handle. The concavity in the cap to receive the
handle may be of an octagonal or circular, or other shape, and the hole to
receive the tang may be of a circular or such other shape as may prove con-
venient, and the size of the bolster need not be much larger than the tang. If
the external part of the cap be made circular, its diameter for a balance-
handled dinner knife may be about five eighths or three quarters of an inch.
Third, by placing one half of a very stout ferrule round the small end of the
handle, introducing part of the bolster into the other half of the ferrule, and
then fastening the tang to the bandle by inserting a pin in a hole drilled
crosswise through the handle and tang at about the middle of the handle.
In this case the middle of the ferrule must be sufficiently stout to become a
bolster for balance-handled knives and forks, and there must be a slight
pitch, so as to create a slight shoulder on the bolster, and there may be a
similar slight pitch on the small end of the handle.
According to the foregoing description of the first means, the junction of the
bolster with the handle is covered by tenoning, and according to the third
means the junction is covered by the ferrule, and a portion of both handle and
bolster is embraced. In all cases the pin which secures the tang to the handle
may be of white metal, ivory, horn, whalebone, or any suitable material; and
it may be preferable for the pin hole to be drilled in the same direction, as
from the edge to the back of the knife; and for the purpose of keeping the
tang more steady in the handle while drilling the pin hole some resin or
cement can be used if found desirable. Tangs are sometimes made too short,
and they ought always to be longer than half the length of the handles; and to
prevent the tangs from becoming rusty and discolouring an ivory handle, they
may be smeared with white paint or tallow.
For carving forks it may be useful to fix a metal ruffle or collar near the
bolster like the ruffle round oyster knives, but as that is an old Invention, of
course it is not suggested as anything new.

page_text: It is to be clearly understood that I make no claim for any of the separato
parts, or dimensions, or shapes, or manner of making the same, because
they may be varied; but my claims as my Invention are as follow,―
First, with reference to the first means herein mentioned, I claim the
combination of a pin with a socketted or grooved bolster in the manufacture of
table knives and forks whose handles are not metallic.
Second, with reference to the second means herein mentioned, I claim the
combination of a pin with the described cap or metal band.
And, third, with reference to the third means herein mentioned, I claim the
combination of a pin with the particularly described ferrule.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Christophers, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Second day of December, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-six.
Witness,
CHARLES BRAILEY,
of Heavitree.
JOHN CHRISTOPHERS. (L.S.)