Improvements in the Construction of Spring Action Pocket Knives.
Year: 1899

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Construction of Spring Action Pocket Knives.
i
We, EDMUND PRIESTMAN, of Sheaf Island Works, Pond Hill, Sheffield, Cutlery,
Manufacturer, and FRED NELL, also of Sheaf Island Works, aforesaid, Cutler,
do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:
Our invention relates more particularly to pocket knives having an automatic
fly open action operating also as a lock or catch for holding the blade fully
closed when out of use.
The principal object is to reduce the cost of manufacture and to simplify the
construction of the constituent parts for effectually securing aforesaid opera-
tions of the blades or other instruments usually forming part of such knives.
In carrying our invention into practice we proceed as follows:-Instead of
using ordinary plain metal scales or lining plates for the inside of handle, we
partially cut, in any suitable position, two longitudinal slits thus forming a
sort of tongue which, being also cut free at one end, operates as a spring, into
the free end of which we fix a steel pin having its outer end bevilled off to
facilitate entry into a hole formed in the shoulder of the blade and thereby
lock the blade when closed into the handle. On the reverse or outer side of this
spring tongue we throw up or fix a small projection under which one end of a
lever formed separately and fixed to the outer face of the inner scale at its
fulcrum engages; the other end of this lever is bent up and fashioned to come
up flush with the outer face of the handle, this end may be shaped as a sub-
stitute for the ordinary shield usually let into such handle, or if preferred
such a shield may be attached to the lever itself, when, by depressing the
shield into or below the surface of the handle the lever pulls back the spring
tongue and the first named steel pin is withdrawn from the hole in the blade
whereupon the blade fly's open by the action of the usual back spring of the
knife as is well understood.
When desired a second hole can be provided in the shoulder of the blade
whereby such blade may be effectually locked in the fully open position, and
be released for closing by depressing the shield end of lever as before described.
We prefer to make the inside scales complete at one operation with all the
necessary holes and tongue produced out of one piece of suitable metal, and also
the releasing lever in like manner thus obviating all loose parts or pieces. This
preparation of scales and levers we effect by suitable modifications of well known
apparatus.
TY 2 1 11
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T
1000
ISAAC BECK, F.S.P.A.,
Haymarket Chambers, 17, Haymarket, Sheffield,
Agent for the Applicants.

page_text: COMPLETE SIECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Construction of Spring Action Pocket Knives.
We, EDMUND PRIESTMAN, of Sheaf Island Works, Pond Hill, Sheffield, Cutlery
Manufacturer, and FRED NELL, also of Sheaf Island Works, aforesaid, Cutler,
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 more particularly to pocket knives having an automatic
Hy open action also a lock or catch for holding the blade securely closed when
out of use.
The object of our invention is to reduce the cost of manufacture and to sim-
plify the construction of the constituent parts for effectually securing aforesaid
operations of the blades or other instruments usually forming part of such
knives.
is
We will now describe our method of putting our invention into practice, for
say a pocket-knife, by reference to the annexed drawings, wherein Fig.
a side view of a complete knife having one blade released. Fig. 2, is a similar
view but with outer part of handle removed. Fig. 3, illustrates an improved
inside metallic scale or liner. Fig. 4, is an edge view of said scale having
releasing lever attached thereto. Fig. 5, is a plan of scale and lever shown in
Fig. 4. Fig. 6, is a plan of inner side of outer scale of handle showing recess
and perforation to receive our improved releasing lever. Fig. 7, shows construc-
tion of pivots upon which the releasing lever is actuated, drawn to an enlarged
scale.
In manufacturering the several parts each is made complete with all necessary
holes, tongue and parts thereof being produced at one operation in large quanti.
ties out of suitable metal by modifications of certain well known tools and
appliances, which however form no part of our present invention, and for
convenience we shall describe each part as if produced singly, while the ultimate
assembling of the whole parts making a knife needs no explanation.
Instead of using plain soft metal scales or lining plates for the inside of handle
we form our lining scales C, out of metal possessing a considerable degree of
elasticity, say hard rolled brass or nickel, and in any suitable position we
partially cut two longitudinal slits, thus forming a sort of tongue T, which,
being entirely cut free at one end, operates as a spring, from similar metal we
form a releasing lever E, having at one end a steel pin P, the outer end of
which is bevilled off to facilitate its entry into a detent hole,. a, formed in the
shoulder of the blade or implement whereby such blade when closed into the
handle as A is securely locked. The opposite end S of releasing lever E is
bent upward to finish about level with the outer face of handle scale B, and is.
preferably fashioned as a substitute for the usual shield, said lever E is attached
by a rivet r or its equivalent to the spring tongue T, and is also secured at its
fülerum by projections e thrown up out of scale C thus forming a semi-circular
depression for that purpose, the whole being finally covered up by the handle
outer scale B duly perforated at H to correspond to S, and recessed as R to allow
for the rising of the pin end of lever E. The knife being now practically com-
plete, the blades A and A¹ on being closed will be locked securely by the entry
of the pins P into the holes, a, respectively, while by simply pressing inward
the shield end S, of the lever E, the pin will be withdrawn from hole, a, when
by reason of the projection, d, of blade resting upon the usual back spring D,
the blade will fly partially open say as shown by A Fig's. 1 and 2, as will be
understood.

page_text: The tongue T may be further stiffened by the formation therein of a corruga-
tion or groove as shown, t, Fig. 3, while rivet, r, shown in Fig's. 4 and 5 may
be omitted or be replaced by a hooked projection thrown up from T into which E
may engage. Likewise the pin P, may form part of or be fixed in either the
lever E, or in the spring tongue T, as may be preferred, also, when desired, a
second hole, a, may be provided in a suitable position in the shoulder of the.
blade for locking such blade in the open position without in any way affecting
the construction or departing from the spirit of our invention.
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:-
In spring operated knives the construction and use of inner scales C, having
integral therewith a spring tongue T, operated by a lever one end whereof
comes up level with the outer face of the handle whereby a locking pin P', may
be actuated at the other end to permit of a blade or other implement being
released and partially raised out of the handle, all for the purposes set forth
and substantially as herein described and illustrated.
1
ISAAC BECK, F.S.P.A.,
Agent for the Applicants,
Haymarket Chambers, 17, Haymarket, Sheffield.
ISAAC BECK, F.S.P.A.,
Agent for the Applicants,
Haymarket Chambers, 17, Haymarket, Sheffield.