Improvements in the Manufacture of the Blades of Razors, Spring Knives, and the like, and in the Tools for same.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 9th Aug., 1892
Complete Specification Left, 9th May, 1893-Accepted, 15th July, 1893
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Manufacture of the Blades of Razors, Spring
Knives, and the like, and in the Tools for same.
We, WILLIAM BARKER HATFIELD of Livingstone Road, Sheffield in the
County of York, Manager and WILLIAM HENRY FURNISS, Upper Myrtle Road,
Sheffield aforesaid Forge Foreman, do hereby declare the nature of our invention
to be as follows:-
Our invention relates to improvements in the manufacture of razor blades,
blades for pocket knives and similar blades, and it refers more particularly to the
process of forging same and to the tools used for that purpose.
We propose to make the blades in pairs laid parallel and edge to edge, and we
therefore cut or fly out a blank of a suitable size and shape from flat steel, thus for
pocket knife blades for example, the blank would taper from the butts to the
points, and would be divided and shaped at the butt ends somewhat resembling the
finished form.
We now place it between the forging or stamping tools which consist of a top
and bottom die; the bottom die has its face cut with a sunk matrix of the finished
form of two blades edge to edge, tapering to the edges, with any shoulders,
thumbnail recesses or the like that may be required.
The top die is suitably formed to give the taper to the cutting edge on the
opposite side of the blade, and any other forms necessary.
The matrix in the face of the bottom die, is of necessity cut deeper at the outer
edges for the thick back of the blade to rest in, and it thus holds up the steel and
prevents it spreading while under operation.
One or more blows of the top die upon the steel (which is properly heated before
being placed between the dies) produces two blades perfectly straight and simply
connected at their cutting edges and possibly a little scarf or fasch here and there,
at the butt end.
A bed and punch curved to the cutting edges of the blades will now divide
forging and remove the fasch, leaving two perfectly formed forgings for the usual
finishing operations.
It will be understood that there would be difficulty in separating pairs of blades
if they were forged back to back, and in forging them singly the tendency of the
metal is to curve and twist out of correct form.
Dated the 8th day of August 1892.
ROBT. F. DRURY, C.P.A.,
Bank Buildings, George Street, Sheffield, Agent for Applicants.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Manufacture of the Blades of Razors, Spring
Knives, and the like, and in the Tools for same.
We WILLIAM BARKER HATFIELD, of Livingstone Road, Sheffield in the
County of York, Manager, and William Henry FURNISS, Upper Myrtle Road,
Sheffield aforesaid, Forge Foreman, 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:-
Our invention relates to improvements in the manufacture of razor blades,
blades for pocket knives, and other similar blades and it refers more particularly
to the process of forging such blades, and to the tools used for that purpose.

page_text: annexed a sheet of drawings illustrating the process and the tools.
Fig. 1, is a plan of the face of the bottom tool shown slightly in perspective.
Fig. 2, a plan of the face of the top tool.
Fig. 3, a piece of steel prepared for operation.
Fig. 4, result of first operation.
Fig. 5, the blades divided.
Fig. 6, a separated blade, with nail recess.
In carrying out our invention we cut off from a bar of steel of suitable thickness,
a slightly tapered piece of sufficient width to produce two blades, for example to
produce two blades for a pocket knife such as shown in Fig. 6, we should use a
piece of steel similar to that shown in Fig. 3.
This piece as will be seen is rather shorter than the blade, the steel being drawn
out or elongated by the operation of the tools, we also prefer to cut out a bit in
the centre marked A, to facilitate the stamping operation.
The pieces of steel so prepared, are then made hot and subjected to the action of
the tools Fig. 1 and Fig. 2. These tools are preferably used in a steam stamp, or
hammer, or similar tool; the bottom tool Fig. 1, is made with a sunk recess or
matrix M, being the counterpart of two blades placed side by side with their
cutting edges joined.
The parts S, are recesses in which the tangs T, of the blades are formed, and
the projection P, forms the opening or space Ŏ, the depth of these parts of the
matrix being indicated by the perspective lines.
The line L, indicates the bevil of the two blades, and the two sunk edges E, form
the backs of each blade and prevent the metal spreading sideways.
The top tool is provided with a bevilled projection or ridge R, to give the bevil
to the opposite side of the blades. Projections may be used to print the nail-slit
or recess N, if desired but in practice we find no advantage in such use.
A few blows of the top die Fig. 2, upon the heated steel produces two blade
blanks joined at the edges as shown in Fig. 4, with possibly a little scarf which is
cut off, and the blades divided by a narrow bed and punch at B, and a slit made
through the bits or "kicks" K, which completely seperates the blades.
By this method of forging or stamping the blades in pairs edge to edge, the
metal is better under control, and by reducing the thickness to the cutting edges,
the steel is made closer and harder where it is required to be so.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what
we claim is :-
1. The method of manufacturing the blades of razors, spring knives and other like
blades by forging or stamping them from flat pieces of steel to the desired con-
figuration between specially formed tools, the said blades being produced in pairs
with their cutting edges conjoined, to be afterwards divided and finished by
ordinary means; substantially as hereinbefore described and with reference to the
drawings.
2. Forging the blades of razors, spring knives, and the like in pairs with their
bevilled cutting edges conjoined, in the matrix of a tool, or pair of tools, that will
produce the desired configuration substantially as herein before described and shown.
3. For use in the production of blades of kuives and razors, a pair of tools,
having in the face of one of them a sunk matrix, that will produce two bevilled or
tapered blades with their cutting edges conjoined, and other parts of such blades if
required, substantially as herein before described and with reference to Figs. 1 & 2
of the drawings.
1
ROBT. F. DRURY, C.P.A.,
Bank Buildings, George Street, Sheffield, Agent for Applicants.