Improvements in Knives for Skinning Animals.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 19th Oct., 1897--Accepted, 8th Jan., 1898.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Knives for Skinning Animals.
I, DOMINICK BÖLDERL, a. Citizen of the United States, residing at 1028 Bryant
Street, in the City and County of San Francisco, State. of. California, Butcher, 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 improvements in knives used for removing the skin from
animals, and it consists in the novel construction and arrangement of the parts shown
in the drawings, in which:
Fig. 1, is a side view of a knife constructed in accordance with this invention, the
handle being partly cut away to carry the fastening wrench.
Fig. 2, is an edge view from the front, showing the relation of the cutting
blade to the shield.
Fig. 3, is a side view of the shield as removed from the cutting blade.
Fig. 4, is a cross section of the knife and shield.
As above stated, this invention has particular reference to knives for the purpose
of removing the skin from animals. It is particularly designed to overcome the
liability to accident by cutting the skin to which the use of the ordinary knives
are subject.
It is to hold the skin away from the cutting edge of the knife that I have provided
the shield, A. The shield is formed of metal and so shaped that the forward edge of
the shield will stand away from the cutting edge of the knife when the two are
clamped together. They are thus clamped by small bolts, B, and nuts, C, which
are screwed firmly down to the shield. The bolts, B, are provided with square flat
heads which sink into recesses formed to receive them in the blade, D, of the knife.
By this means the side of the blade next the flesh of the animal is maintained
flush.
When it is desired to sharpen the blade, D, the shield and its fastenings are
removed, leaving the blade as free as an ordinary blade.
It is to obtain various degrees of speed in the operation of skinning, that the shield
is made adjustable back from the cutting edge of the blade, D, it being found that
the work is much more rapidly performed as the blade, D, is more exposed. Though
it will readily be understood that the danger of accident is enlarged in proportion as
the blade is exposed. The adjustment referred to is obtained by means of the
elongated slots E, E, through which the bolts, B, are extended. The adjustment is
accomplished by loosening the nuts, C, and advancing or receding the shield.
The forward edge of the shield is rounded and dull, and is designed to bear against
the skin and raise it away from the flesh of the animal, or when the skin is being
pulled away, to take the strain of the pull and keep the skin away from the edge of the
blade. It is for this purpose that it is raised. By being thus raised the blade is
freed and allowed to cut the intervening tissues which bind the skin to the flesh,
these being permitted to pass between the blade and shield,

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is :-
I. A skinning knife having a shield secured on the one side the cutting blade, said
shield having a dull edge raised away from the entting edge of said knife, and
advanced to near the line of the said cutting knife, substantially as described.
II. A skinning knife having a cutting blade, a shield having a dulled edge and shaped
to the said cutting blade, and fastening devices to clamp the said shield on the
said blade to hold them firmly together, with their forward edges separated,
combined substantially as described.
Dated this 18th day of October 1897
H. B. BARLOW & GILLETT,
Agents for Applicant, 17 St. Ann's Square, Manchester.