IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF DAGGER, TABLE, DESSERT, FISH, AND CARVER KNIVES AND FORKS
Year: 1872

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Needham, of 71, Arundel Street, Sheffield,
Silversmith and Outler, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE
MANUFACTURE OF DAGGER, TABLE, DESSERT, FISH, AND CARVER KNIVES AND
FORKS."
Sealed the 13th May 1873, and dated the 25th November 1872.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Needham at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
25th November 1872.
I, JOHN NEEDHAM, of 71, Arundel Street, Sheffield, Silversmith and
Outler, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "Im-
PROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF DAGGER, TABLE, DESSERT, FISH, AND
CARVER KNIVES AND FORKS," to be as follows:-
My Invention consists of improvements herein-after described in the
manufacture of dagger knives, table knives and forks, fish knives and
forks, dessert knives and forks, and carver knives and forks, and steels,
and especially to prevent the handles becoming detached from the blades
and forks and other articles.

page_text: My Invention consists in making the knives and forks by the fol-
lowing methods, the blades or forks to be so constructed as to have a
ledge or shoulder formed at the point of junction between the tang and
bolster so that it may allow the handle to slot on close to the bolster of the
blade or fork, and further, to have the tang sufficiently long so as to cause
it to go clean through the handle and is afterwards levelled off outside the
head end of the handle, which gives a direct permanent support and resist-
ing power to the knife or fork against bruises in case of falling. The
different parts are then afterwards united together by soft or hard sol-
dering, causing handle and blade or handle and fork to be one piece or
article
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said John Needham in the Great Seal Patent Office on
the 21st May 1873.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JOHN
NEEDHAM, of 71, Arundel Street, Sheffield, Silversmith and Cutler, send
greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent bearing date the Twenty-fifth day of November, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-two, in the thirty-
sixth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give
and grant unto me, the said John Needham, Her special licence that I,
the said John Needham, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or
such others as I, the said John Needham, my executors, administrators,
and assigns, should at any time agree with, and no others, from time to
time and at all times thereafter during the term therein expressed, should
and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and vend, within the United
Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of
Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF DAGGER, TABLE,
DESSERT, FISH, AND CARVER KNIVES AND FORKS," upon the condition (amongst
others) that I, the said John Needham, my executors or administrators,
by an instrument in writing under my, or their; or one of their hands

page_text: -
and seals; should particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the
said Invention, and in what manner the same was to be performed,
and cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office within
six calendar months next and immediately after the date of the said
Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said John Needham, do hereby declare
the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement :-
My Invention consists of Improvements herein-after described in the
manufacture of dagger knives, table knives and forks, fish knives and
forks, carver knives and forks, and steels; the object of the Inven-
tion being especially to prevent the handles becoming detached from
the blades of knives, forks, and other articles.
These improvements are accomplished by making the knives and
forks by the following methods, reference being made to accompanying
Drawings; Fig. 1 represents a handle of a knife or fork; Fig. 2, a
blade with section of handle; Fig. 3, a blade with tang; a, a, being the
shoulder or ledge, 6 the tang, c the bolster.
The blades or forks to be so constructed as to have a ledge or
shoulder a, a, see Drawing, formed at the point of junction between the
tang 6 and bolster c so that it may allow the handle to slot on close on to
the bolster c of the blade or fork, and further to have the tang ỗ suffi-
ciently long to go clean through the handle, as shewn on Drawing,
which gives a direct permanent support and resisting power to the knife
or fork against damage in case of falling.
The different parts are then united together by soft or hard soldering,
causing handle and blade or handle and fork to be one piece or article.
These improvements relate to that class of daggers, table knives and
forks, dessert, fish; and carver knives and forks which have metallic
handles, blades, or forks.
Having thus described the nature of this my Invention and the
manner of carrying the same into effect I would have it understood that
though I have shewn and specified as an improvement the ledge or
shoulder immediately under the bolster of the blade, I would reserve to

page_text: myself the option of using it or not; but what I now claim and desire.
to be secured to me by Letters Patent is, the said Invention for improve-
ments in the manufacture of dagger, table, dessert, fish, and carver
knives and forks, substantially as herein described in the foregoing
Specification, and as shewn on the accompanying Drawings, or any
mere modification of the same.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Needham, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Nineteenth day of May, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-three.