Improvements in Pocket and Table Knives.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 2nd July, 1896-Accepted, 8th Aug., 1898
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Pocket and Table Knives.
I, JOHN STODDART BROWN, of Galveston, in the County of Galveston, State of
Texas, United States of America, Manufacturer, 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, that is to say :-
My invention has for its object to improve and cheapen the finishing of steel
pocket and table knives, and obviate risk of drawing their temper, as is liable
to occur in the polishing of the knife-blades.
Heretofore, pocket and table knives have always been presented for sale with
finished or polished blades, which unnecessarily increases the cost of the knife,
much time and labour being devoted to finishing, or polishing the blades. Besides,
the finishing or polishing of the blade, as ordinarily practised, is extremely liable
to injure the same and deteriorate its cutting qualities, because, unless the
finishing or polishing of the blade is skilfully accomplished by an experienced
workman, the temper is drawn out of the steel to a very great degree. But few
workmen can polish a pocket or table knife-blade satisfactorily, letting the temper
or cutting quality remain in the steel after finishing and polishing, so that the
quality of the blade will be as good as it was before. The blades of pocket and
table knives can be produced cheaper, by far, and of better quality, if they are
finished without polishing. Again, a saving of expense in the finishing of the
blades will justify a more costly handle, which materially adds to the selling value
of the knife, especially if the blades be finished in such manner as to improve,
rather than lessen, their cutting effectiveness.
To these several ends therefore, and further to furnish an attractive novelty
in pocket and table knives, my invention consists in the coloured pocket or table
knife-blade, and in the process for colouring the same, as hereinafter described
and claimed.
In carrying out my invention, pocket or table knife-blades are finished, but not
polished, therefore there is no risk of drawing the temper of the steel, as is liable
to occur in this operation unless accomplished with great care or skill and at
considerable expense. Instead of polishing the blades, I finish them by colouring,
and this operation may be effected by mechanical or chemical means, or in any
other manner that will accomplish the purposes of my invention.
As a convenient, economical, and effective preparation for colouring the blades
of pocket, or table, knives, I use a compound of lamp-black, say, one pound;
Prussian blue, about one ounce; copal varnish, about one gill; and enough
spirits of turpentine to give the consistency of a moderately thick paste. If an
extra fine finish is desired, carbon black may be substituted for the lamp black.
These ingredients are to be mixed in a suitable vessel and and stirred well
together. The mixture should then be allowed to stand for about 24 hours. It
is then to be thinned, with a sufficiency of spirits of turpentine, to the consistency
of ordinary paint.
The colouring material or compound is to be applied evenly to the knife-blades
by means of a brush, or by immersion, and allowed to dry thoroughly; after
which, the coloured knife-blades are buffed with a canvas buffing-wheel run at
about twelve hundred revolutions per minute. No other finishing operation is
required. If the knife-blade thus treated has too much of a shiny appearance,
less varnish should be used in the colouring compound. If the blade is not

page_text: sufficiently blued, the proportion of Prussian blue should be increased. Any
desired shade can be produced by varying the proportion or character of the
pigment. It is obvious that any other colour than blue can be imparted to the
knife-blades "by providing for suitable variations of pigment in the colouring
compound; but a blue shade for these coloured knife-blades will probably, in
most cases, be preferred.
Among the advantages of colouring pocket and table knife blades by the
means and process described, are:-Prevention from rust and tarnishing; avoidance
of all liability to drawing of temper, as is likely to occur in polishing processes;
Furthermore,
very great saving in the cost of knife blade finishing.
pocket and table knives furnished with coloured blades offer better and more
varied opportunities for a display of taste in the finish and ornamentation of
the handles, by contrast or harmony of colouring, or otherwise, and especially
in cheap pocket and table knives, the merchantable value will be largely enhanced.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. As an improved article of manufacture, a pocket or table knife-blade
provided with a coloured-surface, substantially as and for the purposes described.
2. The process of colouring and finishing unpolished pocket and table knife-
blades, which consists in applying a colouring material or compound to the blades,
and then buffing the same, substantially as and for the purposes described.
Dated this 2nd day of July 1896
ERNEST DE PASS,
Chartered Patent Agent,
78, Fleet Street, London, and 54 Market Street, Nottingham,
Agent for the Applicant.