Sheffield Cutlery Flatware & Gifts


How Pocket Knives Are Made

Making A Pocket Knife

Step 1

The blades and springs are first cut out of sheet steel, using blanking tools and a 50-ton press.
These are then marked, drilled, nail nicked and straightened before hardening and tempering.

The Blade Blanking Tool - These come in all shapes and sizes, according to each pattern. There can be as many as 5 or 6 such tools per single bladed pocket knife.

Blanking out the linings ready to have the holes pierced in them.

Cutting out the blanks
Cutting Out The Blanks
Blade Blanking Tool
Blade Blanking Tool
Blanking Out the Linings
Blanking Out The Linings

Step 2

The individual parts are then prepared on the bench prior to assembly.

After the blades have been hardened and tempered they are ground to an edge then cleaned up ready for assembly.

Preparing for Assembly
Preparing For Assembly
Grinding and Cleaning
Grinding & Cleaning

Step 3

The cleaned parts are ready for assembly. They are the blade, spring, 2 linings, and 2 bolsters which have already been soldered on the linings, 2 Rosewood scales and the wire used to rivet the knife together.

Ready For Assembly
Ready For Assembly

Step 4

The assembled knife is then "knocked up" at the bench using a hammer and an anvil called a "stidy". All this is done by hand with the upmost skill so that the knife still "walks and talks", the term used to describe the opening and closing actions.

Knife Ready To Be Knocked Up
Knife Ready To Be Knocked Up
Knocking Up
Knocking Up

Step 5

The assembled knives are then placed in a tray ready to be ground, glazed and finished.

Using a Linisher with different grade emery belts, the cutler then grinds and shapes the knives to the required finish.

The final product! After a final polish and sharpening the blade on a whet stone this is the finished pocket knife.

Knives Ready To Be Glazed & Finished
Knives Ready To Be Glazed & Finished
Linishing & Shaping
Linishing & Shaping
The Finished Knife
The Finished Knife