IMPROVEMENTS IN ATTACHING THE BOLSTERS AND HANDLES OF CUTLERY:
Year: 1882

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Joseph Ernest Beal of Sheffield in the County of York
for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN ATTACHING THE BOLSTERS AND
HANDLES OF CUTLERY:"
"
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Joseph Ernest Beal at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 14th July 1882.
JOSEPH ERNEST BEAL of Sheffield in the County of York.
IN 'ATTACHING THE BOLSTERS AND HANDLES OF CUTLERY "
"IMPROVEMENTS
My Invention relates to improvements in attaching the bolsters and handles of
Cutlery in an economical manner and without the use of pins, and it is especially
applicable to the cheaper class of Table Knives, Butchers, and similar Knives
having scale tangs.
In carrying out my invention (according to one arrangement) I make the bolster
which somewhat resembles in shape the letter H by punching it out of sheet brass
(for example) or of any other suitable metal, or where considerable thickness is
required it may be made by casting it in metal
I punch in the flat tang of the knife an oblong.hole or slot, the top of which is
the desired position for the bolster. The centre of the hole is made rather wider
than the other part so that the bar of the bolster can be turned round easily.-To
place the bolster in position it is passed edgeways into the oblong hole or slot, till
the bar is in the centre, it can then be turned from the vertical to the horizontal
position, and raised upward to the top of the oblong hole or slot; the scales are
then secured to the tang by rivets or pins, the ends of the scales fitting close up to
the bolster.
According to another arrangement I make the bolster of the same construction
as before described, but I cut a long slot in the tang dividing it from the
bottom up to the position of the bolster near the blade, so that It forms a double
tang.
I cut corresponding grooves in the edges of the handle which in this case is
made in one piece, in contradistinction to scales as used in the former arrangement.
I then enter the cross bar of the bolster between the two parts of the tang and
pass the bolster up to the top of the slot.
The ends of the tang are then entered into the grooves formed in the handle in
which they fit tightly, and the handle is driven up to the bolster. This arrange-
ment of a divided tang and grooved handle may be used 'without the bolster for the
purpose of attaching the handle to the blade. If desirable, either for ornament, or
for security, the ends of the tang may be rivetted into a cap or plate.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Joseph Ernest Beal in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
12th January 1883.
JOSEPH ERNEST BEAL of Sheffield in the County of York,
ATTACHING THE BOLSTERS AND HANDLES OF CUTLERY"
"IMPROVEMENTS IN
My Invention relates to improvements in attaching bolsters, and handles to the
tangs of cutlery, in a simple and economical manner, and without the use of pins
or rivets, and it is especially applicable to Butchers Knives, and other similar
knives having scale tangs.
( In carrying out my invention according to one arrangement thereof which relates
to securing the bolsters without the use of pins or rivets, I make the bolster of a
shape somewhat resembling the letter H, preferably by punching it out of sheet
brass, or other suitable material, but where considerable thickness is required, I cast
it in suitable metal to the required shape. I cut or punch through the tang an
oblong or other suitably shaped hole, the top of the hole being in the desired
position for the bolster, in the finished knife. I then pass the bolster edgewise
into the oblong or other shaped hole in the tang, and turn it round to a horizontal
position, raising it till the crossbar is in contact with the top of the hole, the scales
are then secured to the tang in the usual manner.
And in order that my invention may be fully understood, I shall now refer to
the sheet of drawings, the same letters of reference indicating the same, or
.corresponding parts in the various figures.
Fig. 1 represents a blade and tang, A being the blade, and B the tang, C is the
oblong hole, to receive the bolster D which is shown in position by the dotted lines.
The hole C is made wider in the middle to enable the centre bar of the bolster
to be turned round from the vertical, to the horizontal position. Figa 2 and 3 are
modifications in the plan' of getting the bolster in position.
Fig. 4, represents the complete knife, the bolster D being secured in its place, by
the scales of the handle.
Fig 5, 6 and 7 represent a Butchers Knife, in which the bolster D and the
handle I are both secured to the tang, without the use of pins or rivets ;-In this
arrangement I cut out of the tang B a long central slot F which may be quite
plain, but by preference I leave in the operation of cutting it out, two small teeth G,
near the bottom end, I make the bolster like the one shown in Fig. 1, the two
arms of the divided tang B, fitting into the slots E, when the bolster is turned
horizontally.
I make the handle I with two saw gates shown in the end view and sectional
part of Fig. 6, and marked H, one being cut down each side of the handle, and
corresponding with the thickness of the arms of the tang; the centre or solid part
of the handle (J) being the same width as the slot in the tang.
When the bolster is in its place at the top of the slot, the ends of the tang, are
entered into the openings of the sawgates in the handle, and the handle forced
forward till it binds the bolster tightly against the top of the slot F.-The arms of
'the bolster which have been sprung open, are now closed, causing the points, or
teeth G, to be embedded in the solid wood of the handle, and thus to securely bind
all the parts together.
Fig. 7, shows the knife put together and finished.
Having now described, and fully ascertained the nature of my said invention,
and the manner of carrying the saine into practice; I would observe in conclusion,
that what I consider to be novel and original, and therefore claim as the invention
secured to me by the hereinbefore, in part recited-Letters Patent, is:
The method of attaching, and securing, the bolsters and handles of cutlery to the

page_text: tangs or blades, substantially as hereinbefore described, and as illustrated in the
drawings, or any mere modifications thereof
In Witness whereof, I the said Joseph Ernest Beal, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Eleventh day of January, in the Year of our Lord One
thousand Eight hundred and Eighty three.