Abstract: A folding knife having a cantilevered leaf spring member with an engagement tab at the free end thereof. The engagement tab engages with a notch defined in a pivoting blade carrier pivotally connected to the knife handle member. Carried within the blade carrier is an interchangeable blade insert. When the blade is moved to an extended position, it is automatically locked in that position through engagement of the engagement tab with the notch in the blade carrier. Retraction of the blade requires pulling upwardly on ears provided adjacent the engagement tab to remove the engagement tab from the notch, such that the blade can be pivoted into a blade compartment provided in the handle member.

Abstract: A knife having removable handle members, wherein each handle member includes a sharpening member. Each sharpening member is carried adjacent the blade of the knife when the handles are attached. Upon removal of the handles, the sharpening members are carried by the handle members and are used in sharpening of the blade.

Abstract: A fiber retrieving apparatus is incorporated into the upper wall of an enclosure mounted beneath the lickerin. A suction outlet in the lower wall of the housing is connected to a source of suction for continuously removing trash, motes, fly, short fibers and the like collected therein. An air inlet is provided in either the front wall or rear wall or both to replace the air removed from the housing so that good fibers are not drawn from the lickerin roll.