S86

CUTLERY.

be made with what is called a scale tang, that is, a broad flat tang, to which the handleis to be attached in two pieces, riveted on the sides of the tang, the rollers are then onlyto have recesses cut in them, in a direction parallel to the axis for forming the bolster.

The plate of steel, having been heated, is to be pressed between the two rollers, bywhich the blades and the parts for the scale tangs will be pressed out flat and thin, andthose parts which pass between the grooves or recess will be left thick or protuberant,forming the bolster for the shoulder of the blade. But if the tangs are to be round inorder to be fixed into single handles, then it will be necessary also to form transversegrooves in the rollers, that is, at right angles to those which give shape to the bolsters,the transverse grooves corresponding in length to the length of the intended tang.When the plates of steel have been thus rolled, forming three or more knives in abreadth, the several knives are to be cut out by the ordinary mode of what is called slit-ting, and the blades and shoulders ground, hardened, and polished in the usual way.

Forks are generally a distinct branch of manufacture from that of knives, and arepurchased of the fork makers by the manufacturers of table knives, in a state fit for re-ceiving the handles.

The rods of steel from which the forks are made, are about fths of an inch square.The tang and shank of the fork are first roughly formed. The fork is then cut off,leaving at one end about 1 inch of the square part of the steel. This part is afterwardsdrawn out flat to about the length of the prongs. The shank and tang are nowheated, and a proper form given to them by means of a die and swage. The prongs areafterwards formed at one blow by means of the stamp; this machine is very similar tothat used in driving piles, but it is worked by one man. It consists of a large anvilfixed in a block of stone nearly on a level with the ground. To this anvil are attachedtwo rods of iron of considerable thickness, fixed twelve inches asunder, perpendicularly tothe anvil, and diagonally to each other. These are fastened to the ceiling. The ham-mer or stamp, about 100 lbs. in weight, having a groove upon either side corresponding 1°the angles of the upright rods, is made to slide freely through its limited range, beingconducted by its two iron supporters. A rope is attached to the hammer, which goesover a pulley on the floor of the room above, and comes down to the person who worksthe stamp: two corresponding dies are attached, one to the hammer, and the other tothe anvil. That part of the fork intended to form the prongs, is heated to a pretty whiteheat and placed in the lower die, and the hammer containing the other die is made tofall upon it from a height of about 7 or 8 feet. This forms the prongs and the mi<m.part of the fork, leaving a very thin substance of steel between each prong, which isafterwards cut out with an appropriate instrument called a fly-press. The forks are noWannealed by surrounding a large mass of them with hot coals, so that the whole shabecome red-hot. The fire is suffered gradually to die out, and the forks to cool withoubeing disturbed. This process is intended to soften, and by that means to prepare themfor filing. The inside of the prongs is then filed, after which they are bent into the*proper form and hardened. When hardened, which is effected by heating them red-hotand plunging them into cold water, they are tempered by exposing them to the degree olheat at which grease inflames. See Stamps .

Penknives are generally forged by a single hand, with the hammer and the unvil sim-ply. The hammer in this trade is generally light, not exceeding 3J lbs. The breadof*the face, or the striking part, is about one inch; if broader, it would not be conve nient for striking so small an object. The principal anvil is about 5 inches, and 10 up. the face, and is provided with a groove into which a smaller anvil is wedged. tsmaller anvil is about 2 inches square upon the face. The blade of the knife n> ^drawn out at the end of the rod of steel, and as much more is cut off along with i ^is thought necessary to form the joint. The blade is then taken in a pair of tongs,heated a second time to finish the joint part, and at the same time to form a temptang for the purpose of driving into a small haft used by the grinder. Another ntaken to give the blade a proper finish. The small recess called the nail-hole, us ^opening the knife, is made wijile it is still hot by means of a chisel, which is rounone side, and flat upon the other. t e r up

Penknives are hardened by heating the blade red-hot, and dipping them into '' ra , own -to the shoulder. They are tempered by setting them side by side, with the back ^ e y

wards upon a flat iron plate laid upon the fire, where they are allowed to remainare of a brown or purple color. f pr ing

The blades of pocket knives, and all that come under the denomination oknives, are made in the same way. . table

The forging of razors is performed by a foreman and striker, as in makingmives. abo ut

They are generally made of cast steel. The rods, as they come from the tilt, arh inch broad, and of a thickness sufficient for the back of the razor. anvil i* a

There is nothing peculiar in the tools made use of in forging razors : the