More On Period Knives.

More On Period Knives.

Today a friend in the States contacted me and asked me about knives, he had been watching the History Channel, and they had shown a knife with rivets securing the handle. Glen remembered what I had said regarding period knives being pinned and not riveted and so contacted me to see if I had any more to add to my previous research. Here then is what I have so far.

20th Century riveted knives.

The semi-tubular rivet was invented and patented in 1876 by American engineer and

manufacturer, Melon Bray. 

http://www.orbitform.com/modules.php?name=Pages&sp_id=164

The former Tubular Rivet and Stud Company was one of Quincy's largest manufacturing companies in the late nineteenth and early twentieth century. The foundation for the company was laid in 1874 

http://thomascranelibrary.org/htm/492.htm

Rivets were added in 1874 so the pockets carrying all those rock specimens could hold up better.

http://www.literary-liaisons.com/article017.html

with the invention of the “big fat” brass cutler's rivets of the 1890s.

http://www.manuellisaparty.com/articles/pfd's/Some%20Thoughts%20on%20Butchers.pdf

Even in the early 20^th century butcher knives were being made using pins and not rivets.

http://books.google.com.au/books?id=E6NZd17WtWoC&pg=PA416&lpg=PA416&dq=~antique+sheffield+butcher+knife+catalogues&source=bl&ots=pG67xpui5k&sig=dFJd2T6Vhlz2kexdqQDmsfFxQUw&hl=en&sa=X&ei=nygoUefMNIPQkwWEzYCACA&sqi=2&ved=0CE8Q6AEwAg#v=onepage&q=~antique%20sheffield%20butcher%20knife%20catalogues&f=false

19th Century Russel knives.

Modern copy of a 19th century Sheffield butcher knife.

Wilson catalogue knife circa 1900ad.

This to me looks like a typewriter written page, yet it is still listing knives with pinned handles, not riveted.

Three of my 19th century knives with 5 pinned handles.

18th Century Blades:

Two copies I made of 18th century butcher knives using 20th century carbon steel butcher blades. Both using just three pins to secure the handles.

17th century knives. A variety of 17th century knives, with 5,4 and 3 pins securing the handles, but unlike the 19th century knives, these pins are all in-line.