Year: 1886

page_text: I, HENRY HARRIS LAKE, of the firmn of Haseltine Lake & Co, Patent Agents
Southampton Buildings in the County of Middlesex do hereby declare the nature
of this invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be
particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement:—
This invention relates to that class of table cutlery in which the handles are
made from metal.
Heretofore metal handles for table cutlery have been made by forming each
handle in two parts or blanks, cut from sheet metal, and struck into shape, so that
the edges of the two parts will meet in the central plane of the blade, the two
parts being soldered together, and also soldered to the bolster. Such construction
enables the production of handles of various shapes and ornamentation, but, as the
metal is necessarily thin, they are liable to be bruised, and in such bruising the joint
is broken, and permits water to flow into the handle, and as when once in the
handle it can only leave there by dripping out, it is a source of annoyance to users
of such knives.
To obviate this difficulty the handles have been cast solid onto the blade, but
such handles are so heavy as to be practically discarded in the market.
Other metal handles have been forged in the same piece with the blade, and
made small and light, so as to overcome the objection of the heavy cast handle,
but in such construction the handles are too small to be conveniently used.
Again, where an ornamented handle is desirable, the forged handles require first
to be finished, and then struck in dies to produce ornamentation; this operation is
expensive and does not relieve the handle from the objections to its size.
Other classes of handles have been made by drawing up a sheet metal tube,
equal in transverse area from the butt to the bolster, the butt end being closed, and
the other open and soldered to the bolster but such handles are objectionable from
the fact of the necessary shape of equal transverse area throughout, such shape
being necessary because the handles are drawn from sheet metal in dies.
T

page_text: The recognized best shape for a handle of a table knife is that usually found in
ivory handles, which taper slightly from the bolster, to the butt, the butt being
simply rounded, the sides of the handle flat, and the edges rounded, such as seen in
Figures 1 and 2.
Handles have been cast directly onto the tang, hollow or cored, so as to leave the 5
butt end open, and the butt end closed by a cap soldered or brazed thereto, the
said handles being cast from an alloy, or what is commonly called "white metal."
In such metal it is difficult to produce a fine surface by the usual methods of
polishing, thus making such handles as ordinarily produced too expensive for
practical work.
It is to this class of handles that my invention particularly relates, and it has
for its object to consolidate the metal, whereby a fine smooth surface is produced,
which handles can, if desired, be easily ornamented in such consolidation.
The said invention consists in casting a tubular handle at the heel or tang end
of the blade upon a metal core, the core extending beyond the butt end of the
handle whereby the butt end of the handle is left open, and then striking the
handle between dies, while the metal core remains in the handle to form a
resistance against the action of the dies, as hereinafter described.
In the accompanying drawing
Figure 1 represents a side view of a knife, a portion of the blade being broken
away.
Figure 2 is a back view of the same.
Figure 3 is a longitudinal central section in a plane at right angles to the plane
of the blade.
Figure 4 is a transverse section through the handle.
Figure 5 is a transverse section showing a modification of the web.
A represents the handle and B the blade, the outline of the handle being
substantially that of the common ivory handle.
The handle is cast hollow with the butt end open.
A metal mould is first formed, having a cavity corresponding to the exterior of
the handle and also a cavity to receive the bolster end of the blade, so that when
the blade is set into the mould as much of its tang as is necessary for the
attachment of the handle will stand within the handle cavity, and receive the
bolster portion, as at a Figure 3.
A metal core is prepared for the handle, and fixed in the mould so as to stand in
the cavity and leave a space around it for the metal to flow to form the handle
and onto the blade to form a bolster.
Longitudinally through the core is an opening, corresponding to a web b to be
formed between the two sides of the handle. The metal is poured into the mould,
and, flowing around the core, forms the handle and bolster, and in so flowing the
metal unites with the heel end of the blade; the metal also flows through the
opening in the core, and forms the web b which is longitudinally through
the handle uniting its two sides; this leaves the butt end of the handle open.
After the core is removed, the butt end of the handle is closed by a cap C, which
is of convex shape, and soldered to the open butt end of the handle. The cap
may be struck from sheet metal so as to form a strong butt.
The metal employed to form such handles, it will be understood, is what is
commonly called "white metal." As this metal is liable to be porous, or present a
somewhat open surface, I strike the handle in dies, in shape corresponding to the
finished handle, while the handle is still on the core, that is when the handle with
the core is removed from the mould, instead of immediately withdrawing the core,
the handle with the core still in it, is introduced between dies and struck, thereby
condensing the metal, and producing a perfectly smooth surface.
In some classes of handles an ornamental surface is required, in such case the
striking or finishing dies have their cavities correspondingly ornamented, and then
by striking onto the metal of the handle while it is still supported by the core
the handle is finished and ornamented corresponding to the dies, the core forming

page_text: a firm support for such striking and ornamentation. The core is subsequently
removed, and the cap applied to close and finish the butt end, then the handles
may be electroplated, or otherwise finished.
Instead of making the web to extend entirely across the handle from side to side,
it may be a rib upon each as seen in Figure 5, the ribs in themselves being
sufficient to withstand blows or accidents which would otherwise indent the handle.
The rounded shape of the edges of the handle serve to resist such indentation, the
sides only needing the protection described.
While I prefer to cast the handle with the web as a support for the sides, the
web may be omitted.
Having now described the construction and operation of my invention, to which
I have given the name of "The Frary Handle," I beg to state that I do not claim
broadly a cored metal handle cast directly upon the heel of a blade, and with a cap
applied to close the open butt end of the handle.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed as communicated to me
by my foreign correspondent, I declare that what I claim is :-
•
First. A metal handle for table cutlery, cast directly upon the heel end of the
blade, the said handle being hollow and the butt end open, and provided with a
longitudinal web between the two sides, the butt end being closed by a cap to
complete the handle, substantially as described.
Second. The method herein described for forming cutlery handles, consisting in
casting a tubular handle upon the heel end of the blade, and upon a metal core,
whereby the butt end of the handle is left open, and then striking the handle
between dies while the core still remains in the handle, substantially as described.
Thated thin 9th dow of Mar 1006
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
Agents for the Applicant.