An Improved Metallic Alloy for Use in the Manufacture of Pocket Cutlery.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 21st Nov., 1894-Accepted, 29th Dec., 1894
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Metallic Alloy for Use in the Manufacture of Pocket
Cutlery.
I ALBERT JOHN HOBSON of the Suffolk Works, Suffolk Road, Sheffield, in the
County of York, Cutlery 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 said invention relates to an improved metallic alloy composed of aluminium
and copper and intended more particularly for use in the manufacture of pocket
cutlery. Aluminium alone is not well suited for such purposes being too soft and
ductile and it has the further disadvantage of colouring the fingers.
The object of my invention is to produce an alloy, using aluminium as a base,
which while preserving the lightness and bright appearance of aluminium will yet
possess properties of strength and hardness sufficient to permit of its useful
application to the indicated purposes. The said improved alloy is composed by
adding a proportion of copper to the aluminium. The alloy is made by taking the
proper weight of aluminium and also of copper and heating these together in a
suitable receptacle until the alloy is thoroughly formed.
As the result of experiment I have discovered that the percentage of copper to
aluminium necessary to form an alloy of the desired strength, appearance and
hardness may be normally stated at about ten per cent. I do not however confine
myself rigidly to this proportion as lower or higher percentages of copper might
be used according to the nature or uses of the article it is desired to produce.
For example in manufacturing sporting or champagne knives with the usual blades,
adjuncts and appliances, it is necessary to produce an article of considerable strength,
and I therefore use an aluminium alloy containing about ten per cent. of copper.
In
the case of a pocket fruit knife however, which does not require to be so strong,
I might use an alloy containing a less proportion of copper, say from six to eight per
cent. In a knife of this nature the blade as well as the scales might be of the same
alloy, but preferably I should make the blade of a harder alloy than the scales
that is to say, with a larger proportion of copper, so as to give greater strength and
hardness to the blade.
The chief advantage derived from the use of my improved alloy for the indicated
purposes is, that articles made therefrom are considerably lighter than similar
articles of the same size made from the usual materials. Goods manufactured from
the improved alloy can be made of different degrees of strength to suit the uses to
which they are put; they are susceptible of high polish, preserve a good colour and
do not tarnish the fingers.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is.
1. The improved metal or material for use in the manufacture of pocket cutlery,
and consisting of the indicated alloy composed of aluminium with an added

page_text: 2. The manufacture of articles of pocket cutlery from the hereinbefore described
alloy of aluminium and copper or any mere modification thereof.
Dated this 20th day of November 1894.
E. K. DUTTON & Co.,
5, John Dalton Street, Manchester, Agents.