IMPROVEMENTS IN THE' MANU- FACTURE OF TABLE AND OTHER LIKE KNIVES
Year: 1855

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to James Chesterman, of Sheffield, in the County of
York, Manufacturer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE' MANU-
FACTURE OF TABLE AND OTHER LIKE KNIVES."
Sealed the 25th September 1855, and dated the 5th April 1855.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said James Chesterman at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
5th April 1855.
I, JAMES CHESTERMAN, of Sheffield, in the County of York, Manufacturer,
do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN
THE MANUFACTURE OF TABLE AND OTHER LIKE KNIVES" to be as follows:-
My Invention consists in piercing out from thin sheet or rolled steel a piece
of size and form suitable for a blade and tang. This blade and tang, are
hardened by compression by a process for which former Letters Patent were
granted to me of date the 1st of November 1853, or by a modification of
such process. I make the bolster or shoulder solid, of malleable iron or other
suitable metal, and drill and slot it, in order to admit of the tang of the
blade passing through, and end of the blade fitting into it; the tang is
secured by keys or rivets, and the whole soldered together. The tang may
be of any form which will admit of its being secured in the handle of the
knife.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said James Chesterman in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
25th September 1855.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE. PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JAMES
CHESTERMAN, of Sheffield, in the County of York, Manufacturer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Fifth day of April, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and fifty-five, in the eighteenth year of Her reign,
did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the said
James Chesterman, Her special licence that I, the said James Chesterman,
my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said
James Chesterman, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any
time agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times thereafter
luring 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 TABLE AND OTHER LIKE KNIVES," upon the condition
(amongst others) that I, the said James Chesterman, by an instrument in
writing under my hand and seal, 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 Scal Patent Office
within six calendar months next and immediately after the date of the said
Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said James Chesterman, do hereby declare
the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement thereof, reference being had to the Drawings hereunto annexed,
that is to say:-
My Invention consists in piercing out from thin sheet or rolled steel a piece
of size and form suitable for a blade and tang. This blade and tang are
hardened by compression by a process for which former Letters Patent were
granted to me of date the 1st of November 1853, or by a modification of
such process.
I make the bolster or shoulder solid, of malleable iron or other
suitable metal, and drill and slot it, in order to admit of the tang of the blade
passing through, and end of the blade fitting into it; the tang is secured by
keys or rivets, and the whole soldered or otherwise secured together. The

page_text: tang may be of any form which will admit of its being secured in the handle
of the knife. I find it, however, advantageous to give it a spiral twist, in
order to render it more secure in the handle, and give it a firm hold in the
cement used in the handle.
In the Drawings hereunto annexed I have shewn the manner in which I
carry my Invention into effect, and also modifications in the method of forming
the bolster, and fixing the blade therein.
Figure 1 represents a plan, and Figure 2 an edge view, of the blade and
tang of an ordinary table knife, pierced or punched out of a sheet of steel.
A is the blade, and B the tang. The blade and tang, after being thus pierced
out, are hardened by a process of compression which closes the pores of the
steel, and renders it capable of receiving and retaining a better edge and
polish than by the ordinary method of hardening by immersion in oil and
water. Figure 3 represents a view of the flat side, and Figure 4 an edge
view of the bolster. The bolster is cast of the shape shewn, and with a
circular hole a running either partially or completely through it, as indicated
by the dotted lines; 6 is a slot, cut or cast in the shoulder, which receives the
bottom of the blade; the tang B is passed through the circular hole a, as
shewn in Figure 5; when the tang is thus passed through the hole a, a
semicircular shaped space is left on each side of it, into each of which I drive
a half round metal block C, similar to that represented in Figure 6; the
parts are then soldered firmly together. By the means just described the tang
is greatly strengthened, and the blade rendered firm and rigid. The tang B is
afterwards spirally twisted, as at c, to prevent it from being drawn out of the
cement when fixed in the handle. Figure 7 represents a method of fixing
the blades of table and other like knives and cutlery into their handles by
means of a "through tang." The bolster D is in this case cast solid, and a
screw thread is tapped into the end of it for receiving the screwed end of the
tang B, which is made circular, and passed up through a circular hole drilled
through the handle E. Figure 8 represents a modification in the formation
of the bolster, and also in the method of fixing in the knife blade. In this
instance the bolster is cast in two halves, and a space G sunk in each piece
equal to half the thickness of the blade, so that when the end of the blade,
Figure 9, is inserted between them, they form a close joint. d is a hole
punched through the end of the blade, which corresponds to similar holes
drilled through the bolster; and is a pin driven in through the holes, to
secure the bolster and blade firmly together, after which the whole of the
parts are soldered. Figure 10 represents a further modification for fixing

page_text: the blades of table and other like, knives and cutlery in their bolsters or
shoulders. In this case I form in the end of the blade inserted in the bolster
ก number of indentations on each side, or a series of holes pierced or drilled
through the blade, and then subject the bolster to blows from a hammer or
to compression, which forces the metal of the bolster into the indentations
or holes, in the end of the blade, and thereby the parts are firmly united.
Figure 11 represents a bolster and tang. cast in, one piece; the tang is of the
ordinary shape, or similar to that shewn in section at Figure 12. The side
pieces ff, fit into similar shaped recesses on each side of the circular hole
drilled in the handle for the reception of the tang. By this means, the tang
is prevented from turning round in the handle, and the blade is consequently
kept always in its proper position in reference to the handle.
And having now described the nature of my said Invention, and in what
manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I claim is,-
First, the method of hardening the blades, of table. and other like knives
or cutting instruments by a process of compression for which former Letters
Patent were granted to me of date the 1st of November 1853, or by any
equivalent modification of such process..
Second, I claim casting the bolsters or shoulders of table and other like
knives or cutting instruments with a hole running either partially or. com-
.pletely through them, in the manner and for the purpose herein-before described,
and represented in the Drawings, hereunto, annexed. I also claim casting the
bolster and tang in one piece, as represented in Figure 11 of the Drawings
hereunto annexed, and herein-before described.
Third, I claim the method of strengthening the tangs of table and other
like knives or cutting instruments by means of half round or other shaped
side pieces placed on each side of the tang, and soldering the parts together,
as herein-before described, and represented in the Drawings hereunto annexed.
Fourth, I claim the fixing, the blades of table and other. like knives or
cutting instruments by means of a "through" tang formed by casting the
bolsters of such knives solid, and tapping in the end thereof a screw thread
into which the screwed end of the tang takes, as herein before described, and
represented in Figure 7, of the Drawings hereunto annexed.
. Fifth, I claim the forming of the bolsters or shoulders of table and other
like knives or, cutting instruments of two halves, and the manner of fixing the
blades therein, as herein-before described, and represented in Figures 8 and 9
of the Drawings hereunto annexed,,
And, sixth, I claim the indenting the end of the blades of table and other

page_text: like kuives or cutting instruments, or forming holes in the end thereof,
and attaching the bolsters or shoulders thereto, by either hammering or by
compression, as herein-before described, and represented in Figure 10 of the
Drawings hereunto annexed.
In witness whereof, I, the said James Chesterman, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Twenty-fifth day of September, One thousand eight
hundred and fifty-five.
JAMES CHESTERMAN.
(L.S.)