IMPROVEMENTS IN THE HAFTING OF CUTLERY
Year: 1879

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Henry Bramhall and Edward Blaydes, both of the
Advance Works, New Thomas Street, Sheffield, in the County of York, for
the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE HAFTING OF CUTLERY."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Henry Bramhall and Edward
Blaydes at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 8th October
1879.
HENRY BRAMHALL and EDWARD BLAYDES, both of the Advance Works, New
Thomas Street, Sheffield, in the County of York. "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE HAFTING
OF CUTLERY."
Our Invention has for its object the hafting of cutlery in such a manner as to
secure the handles on the blades, or the blades in the handles without the aid of
rivets or other ordinary modes of fastening hitherto employed, and also to increase
the security of their fastening. And our Invention consists in making the blade
or edged portion of the article of cutlery in the usual way, but with a tang of
suitable shape for bolstering, and loug enough to extend through a central hole in
the handle, from the end of which it is intended to project slightly.
The tang being placed in the handle, the blade and handle are then inserted in a
mould formed in halves, and with the two portions of the mould are boxed up and
held in suitable position whilst molten metal or other suitable substance is run into
the mould.
It is desirable that the end of the tang should be more or less enlarged, so that
when the article is finished and cooled the completed piece of cutlery is properly
clamped, and the parts are fastened with increased security.
By the use of a mould in the manner above stated, the article of cutlery is fixed
in its haft or handle in one process.
Designs or patterns with variations of indented or raised surface may also be
produced at the same time in or on the haft or handle by means of suitably formed
moulds.

page_text: flanged, as shewn. The handle is shown as rectangular in cross section with a
mould corresponding therewith, but it may be of elliptical or other section, and
with curved sides instead of parallel sides, as shewn.
The handle e may be of wood, ivory, or other substance or material shaped and
reduced to the size required to fit within the recess in the mould, and it has a
central aperture f formed in it through which tho tang d passes, as shewn, but
leaving a space round it to be filled up by the molten metal or other suitable
substance.
The handle e is rather shorter than the recess b, thereby leaving a space at each
end, also to be filled up by molten metal or other suitable substance, and thereby
forming a cap or bolster at each end of the handle. In addition to the longitudinal
aperture f transverse apertures g may also be formed in the handle, and these may
be either parallel or dovetailed, as shewn, or otherwise, thereby giving greater hold
(when filled with metal or other suitable substance) to bind the whole together,
and if preferred forming different designs. But these apertures may be dispensed
with if preferred; i is an opening formed in the mould of ordinary configuration
for pouring molten metal or other suitable substance or material into the mould.
The mode or method of hafting cutlery, tools, or other other articles requiring to be
hafted under our Invention, is as follows:-Having provided a mould of suitable
form and handles to fit the same (with apertures therein as above described), a tang
d with a blade c on the end of it is inserted in the aperture ƒ of a handle e, and the
whole are placed in a mould, as shewn in Figures 2 and 3. The mould is then
boxed up and held in position with the opening i at the top, through which
opening is poured molten metal or other suitable substance or material, which will
thereby be caused to fill the space at each end of the handle e, and also that round
the tang d, and the apertures g; by this means when the metal or other substance
has set and become cooled, the handle and the blade will be securely fastened
together. The molten metal or other substance is shewn in black in the figures.
When the metal has cooled in the mould this may be opened, and the final
polishing up and finishing of the handle performed.
Figures 4 and 5 shew the cap or bolster at the end of the handle. If the handle
is made with a simple flat end, as shown in Figures 2 and 3, the edge or line of
junction between the bolster and the end of the handle will be straight, but if it is
desired to give a fancy edge, as shewn in Fig. 5, this can be easily effected by
removing pieces from the handle e, so as to leave its end of the required form,
which will give a corresponding form to the projection 7 of the cap or bolster m.
If the removed part is carried completely round, the bolster will be formed into a
cup or ferrule, and materially assist in further securing the tang d in the handle e,
as well as varying the fashion or design, and in preventing the handle from
splitting, or in case of its splitting in retaining the separated parts in position. In
this case if required the handle e may be made or built up of parts of the same or
various materials, and thus bound together by this means as well as by the
projections caused by running the metal into the apertures g (see Fig. 2). The
handle may also in such case be of curved form with a curved passago through it to
receive a tang of corresponding form.
From the foregoing description, it will be seen that the bolstering at each end of
the handle and the secure fastening of all the parts together are completed at one
operation.
In the Drawings the Invention is represented as applied to the hafting of table
knives with handles rectangular in cross section, and with straight sides, but it is
obvious that it is equally adapted to the hafting of other articles of cutlery, tools,
or other articles requiring to be hafted, and with handles of other forms.
Having thus described the nature of the said Invention and in what manner the
same is to be performed, we hereby declare that what we claim as of our Invention
is, the hafting of cutlery by making the blade or edged portion thereof with a tang
of suitable shape, and of sufficient length for bolstering at each end of the handle,
and the fastening of the handle to the blade by means of molten metal or other

page_text: suitable substance run into a mould, so as to secure all the parts firmly together at
one operation, and without the aid of rivets or other ordinary modes of fastening,
as herein before described.
In witness whereof, we, the said Henry Bramhall and Edward Blaydes, have
hereunto set our hands and seals, the Third day of April, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and eighty.
HENKY BRAMHALL. (L.S.)
EDWARD BLAYDES.
(L.S.)
Witness,
THOMAS FISHER WRIGGLESWORTH,
Traveller to E. Blaydes & Co.,
Advance Works, New Thomas St.,
Sheffield.