Patent ID: 7712222

Claim:
A composite utility knife blade including a first metal portion forming a backing, a second metal portion forming a cutting edge, and a weld region joining the first and second metal portions, wherein the composite utility knife blade is made in accordance with a method comprising the following steps: providing an elongated backing strip formed of spring steel, wherein the elongated backing strip includes a first side, a second side, and opposing edges extending between the first and second sides; providing an elongated wear-resistant steel wire formed of at least one of tool steel and high speed steel; placing the wire in contact with an edge of the backing strip; applying thermal energy to the interface between the wire and backing strip to weld the wire to the backing strip and, in turn, forming a composite bi-metal strip defining a first metal portion formed by the steel backing strip, a second metal portion formed by the wear-resistant steel wire, and a weld region joining the first and second metal portions; heat treating the composite strip; forming at least one facet on the second metal portion and, in turn, forming a wear-resistant steel cutting edge on the composite strip; heating the bi-metal strip to an elevated temperature of at least about 1000° F.; and applying a metal nitride coating by physical vapor deposition to at least a portion of the cutting edge of the bi-metal strip at such elevated temperature.