Abstract: Apparatus configured to sharpen a blade of a cutting tool. In some embodiments, a sharpener is provided having a housing and a sharpening stage with at least one sharpening element. Each sharpening element is characterized as a plate and has a curvilinearly extending, concave sharpening surface configured to impart a corresponding convex sharpening geometry to a selected side of the blade during a sharpening operation in which a user retracts the blade along a longitudinal drawing axis through the sharpening stage. A pair of intersecting sharpening elements may be provided to form a substantially v-shaped groove for a ripper-type sharpening stage. The sharpening element(s) may be fixed or tiltable with respect to the housing. The sharpening element(s) may further be moveable in a lateral direction to narrow or widen the v-shaped groove and change the convex geometry and edge angle imparted to the blade.

Abstract: A folding knife includes a handle, a blade, and first and second bearing pivots. The handle has first and second bearing apertures that open to an exterior of the handle. The blade is disposable at least partially within the handle and between the first and second bearing apertures. The first and second bearing pivots are insertable respectively into the first and second bearing apertures. Each of the first and second bearing pivots includes a thrust bearing surface, and at least one of the first and second bearing pivots includes a radial bearing surface about which the blade is configured to rotate. At least one of the first and second bearing pivots is selectively replaceable from the exterior of the handle to convert the knife between manual and automatic functions.

Abstract: A utility knife includes a blade, a housing to store the blade, an actuator, and a pinion gear to deploy the blade. The pinion gear includes one or more sets of teeth that are engaged with a fixed rack of the housing and a sliding rack of the blade holder. The pinion gear is also coupled to the actuator, which is configured to linearly translate the pinion gear. As the pinion gear linearly translates between front and back ends of the housing, the pinion gear rotates due to its engagement with the fixed rack. The further engagement between the pinion gear and the sliding rack causes the sliding rack to advance in the same linear direction as the pinion gear by a distance that is greater than the linear distance traversed by the pinion gear, thereby advancing or retracting the blade connected to the blade holder.

Abstract: Apparatus for sharpening a cutting tool. In some embodiments, a tool sharpener includes an abrasive medium having an abrasive surface. A stationary tool support guide provides a guide surface that supports a side of the tool during presentation of a cutting edge of the tool against the abrasive surface. A rotatable edge guide has a roller member with a curvilinearly extending outer surface. The roller member is rotatable about an edge guide roller axis to engage, via rolling contact, the cutting edge during the presentation of the cutting edge against the abrasive surface.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for sharpening a cutting edge of a cutting tool, such as a kitchen knife. In some embodiments, an abrasive assembly has a frame, a handle, and a cartridge that supports a plurality of abrasive members each having an associated abrasive surface. A rod affixes the abrasive assembly to a base assembly to facilitate movement of the abrasive assembly along the cutting edge of the tool responsive to engagement, by a user, of the user handle. Each abrasive member is configured to be moved, by the user, with respect to the handle to present each abrasive surface in turn. In some cases, the cartridge is rotatable about a cartridge axis that may be parallel or non-parallel to a central axis of the rod.

Abstract: A utility blade includes a first blade retention feature positioned on a proximal edge of a tang of the utility blade. The proximal edge is angularly offset from a longitudinal axis of the utility blade. The first blade retention feature is associated with an engagement axis parallel to the longitudinal axis of the utility blade. The utility blade is configured to translate along the engagement axis to cause the first blade retention feature to engage with a first blade engagement component of a blade holder. The utility blade further includes a second blade retention feature positioned on a second edge of the tang of the utility blade. The second blade retention feature is positioned along the longitudinal axis of the utility blade and between the first blade retention feature and a distal tip of a cutting portion of the utility blade.