Abstract: A composite knife blade includes a cutting-edge piece of a first alloy, a back piece of a second alloy different from the first alloy, the cutting-edge piece and the back piece are brazed together at a serpentine joint. The cutting-edge piece has a high Rockwell hardness value, as compared to a hardness of the back piece. A method of manufacture of the knife blade includes fine blanking the back piece of from a sheet of the second alloy, laser cutting the cutting-edge piece from a sheet of the first alloy, and brazing the first piece to the second piece to form a composite blade. The composite blade is then cooled from the brazing temperature to an austenizing temperature of the cutting-edge piece, and quenched, to harden the cutting-edge piece.

Abstract: A knife sharpening system includes a substantially planar bed defining a first plane, a support base rigidly coupled to the bed and defining a second plane lying at a selected angle with respect to the first plane, first and second end rails are rigidly coupled to respective ends of the bed and extend outward therefrom. A reference surface is provided on an end of the second end rail, defining a plane that lies parallel to the second plane. A bench stone is received on the bed, and supported thereby so that a surface of the bench stone is parallel to the bed, and lies at the selected angle, relative to the second plane. Apertures formed in the first and second end rails form a cradle configured to receive a sharpening steel, and support the sharpening steel at the selected angle, relative to the second plane.

Abstract: A folding knife includes a handle element, a blade rotatably coupled to the handle element, and a locking mechanism operatively coupled between the blade and the handle element. The locking mechanism includes first and second pairs of toggles positioned, respectively, on first and second sides of the blade, each pair of toggles being configured to move into a locked position when the blade is rotated to an open position. A handle of the knife may include the handle element and the first and second pairs of toggles.

Abstract: A safety lock mechanism for a folding knife includes a lock plate movably coupled to a handle of the knife for movement along a first direction from an engaged position to a disengaged position, the lock plate biased towards the engaged position. A rocker element is coupled to the lock plate for movement from a locked position to an unlocked position and is configured to prevent translational movement of the lock plate to the disengaged position when the rocker element is in the locked position. A control button coupled to the rocker element allows a user to move the rocker element from the locked position to the unlocked position and to move the lock plate towards the disengaged position to thereby release a blade of the knife.

Abstract: A locking mechanism for a folding knife includes a first locking element movably coupled to a handle of the knife for movement along a substantially flat recessed bearing surface from an unlocked position to a locked position and a second locking element having a central axis substantially parallel to a pivot axis of the knife, the second locking element biased in a direction substantially along the central axis for movement from an extended position to a depressed position and being adapted to receive a portion of the first locking element to prevent movement of the second locking element to the depressed position and thus inadvertent deployment or closure of the blade when the first locking element is in the locked position.

Abstract: A pocket clip is attached at a first end to a tool such as a folding knife. A roller assembly is provided at a second end of the clip with a portion extending toward the tool. The roller assembly includes a ratchet wheel between a pair of elastomeric roller wheels. A pawl engages the ratchet wheel and limits rotation of the roller assembly such that the assembly rotates in one direction around an axis transverse to a longitudinal axis of the tool, and resists rotation in an opposite direction. When the tool is positioned in a user's pocket, a panel of the pocket engages the roller assembly, which rotates substantially freely, permitting the pocket panel to slide easily between the pocket clip and the surface of the tool. However, the roller assembly resists movement of the pocket panel in the opposite direction, holding the tool securely in the pocket.

Abstract: A composite knife blade includes a cutting-edge piece of a first alloy, a back piece of a second alloy different from the first alloy, the cutting-edge piece and the back piece are brazed together at a serpentine joint. The cutting-edge piece has a high Rockwell hardness value, as compared to a hardness of the back piece. A method of manufacture of the knife blade includes fine blanking the back piece of from a sheet of the first alloy, laser cutting the cutting-edge piece from a sheet of the second alloy, and brazing the first piece to the second piece to form a composite blade. The composite blade is then cooled from the brazing temperature to an austenizing temperature of the cutting-edge piece, and quenched, to harden the cutting-edge piece.

Abstract: A folding knife includes a handle having a blade channel, a blade rotatably coupled to the handle, and annular blade seals coupled to either side of the blade between the blade and inner surfaces of the blade channel. A locking mechanism having first and second control pins coupled to the blade within the circumference of the blade seal so as to extend toward the first handle element. A lock plate is movably coupled to the handle and engages the first and second control pins when the blade is in the open and closed positions, respectively. A release knob coupled to the lock plate allows a user to move the lock plate to release the blade. A seal positioned between the release knob and the handle seals a space between the release knob and the handle.

Abstract: A mandolin slicer having one or more safety features, including a food carrier having one or more guards to protect a user's hand and a food carrier delivery system that helps ensure uniform and predictable movement. The mandolin slicer also provides an ability to safely and effectively cut oversized, long, and awkwardly shaped food articles.

Abstract: A knife includes a handle and a blade coupled to the handle so as to be movable between an open position in which the blade extends from the handle, and a closed position, in which the blade is received within the handle. A detent mechanism is configured to resist movement of the blade from the closed position toward the open position while less than a threshold bias is applied to the blade toward the open position, but to release the blade to move toward the open position when at least the threshold bias is applied to the blade toward the open position. The threshold bias is of such a degree that, when the blade is released by the detent mechanism, sufficient energy is imparted by the bias to the blade to carry the blade from the closed position to the open position.

Abstract: A knife includes a handle and a blade coupled to the handle so as to be movable between an open position in which the blade extends from the handle, and a closed position, in which the blade is received within the handle. An assisted opening mechanism is operatively coupled between the blade and the handle, and is configured to provide an opening-assist to the blade. An engagement mechanism is also provided, which is switchable between an engaged condition, in which the assisted opening mechanism is enabled, and a disengaged condition, in which the assisted opening mechanism is disabled such that it does not provide an opening assist to the blade.

Abstract: A knife assembly includes a handle having a blade cavity and a deployment slot extending longitudinally in the handle. A blade is slidably positioned within the blade cavity, and is slidable between a retracted position, in which the blade is wholly enclosed within the handle, and an extended position, in which a portion of the blade extends from a first end of the handle. A clip assembly includes a pin configured to releasably engage a tang portion of the blade in the blade cavity via the deployment slot. While the pin engages the blade, it can traverse the deployment slot from a first end to a second end to move the blade between the extended and retracted positions. The handle is configured to hang from the pin at the second end of the deployment slot while the blade is in the retracted position.

Abstract: A folding knife includes a handle and a blade attached thereto and configured to rotate between an open position and a closed position. A locking element is coupled to the handle, while a pawl is coupled to the blade and configured to engage the locking element as the blade rotates to the closed position, such that the blade is locked in the closed position thereby. Opening pressure on the pawl causes it to release the locking element and also causes the blade to rotate from the closed position toward the open position. The knife blade may include a flicker positioned to extend from a back portion of the handle when the blade is in the closed position. The pawl is coupled to the flicker such that pressure on the flicker causes the pawl to release the locking moves the blade toward the open position. The folding knife may also include an opening assist mechanism.

Abstract: A process for forming knife blades such as for kitchen or sport knife use comprises injecting a compound including a binder and a metallic powder into a mold having a shape of the knife blade, removing a green blank from the mold and sintering the green blank to produce a sintered blank. The sintered blank is then subjected to a hot-isostatic-pressure to produce a finished blank. An insert may be placed in the mold to impose a desired feature, such as a logo or legend, on the green blank during the molding process. The mold is so configured as to changeably receive the insert so that a first series of blanks can be made using the insert, then a new insert may be emplaced to impose a different feature on succeeding blanks formed in the mold. An edge component may be placed in the mold, around which the blank is injected, to form a compound blade.

Abstract: A knife is provided including a first side and a second side where the first side may be removably coupled to the second side. The knife further includes a blade removably secured to the handle and rotatable about a pivot point between an open position and a closed position. A manually-releasable fastening device disposed on the handle is adapted to secure the first side to the second side and to secure the blade to the handle, while remaining attached to the handle.

Abstract: A folding knife is disclosed. The folding knife includes a handle; a blade connected to the handle in a manner allowing movement of the blade between a closed position in which the blade extends along the handle and an open position in which the blade extends away from the handle; and a blade-assisting mechanism configured a manually adjustable force to urge the blade towards the open position over at least a portion of the blade travel between the closed position and the open position.