CUTLERY, the general name for all kinds of cutting instruments, such as knives, forks, scissors, razors, etc. The workman who makes these is called a cutler; the swordmaker, a sword-cutler; but the manufacturer of workmen's tools is called a "tool maker," or a "steel to ymaker ," not a cutler. In Birmingham. for example, such imple ments as hammers, chisels, pincers, hatchets, etc., are technically called toys.
Shells, flints, and other sharp-edged stones formed the rudest and most ancient cut instruments, and the earliest traces of human existence upon our island and else where, are associated with stone "celts" and other weapons and cutting implements. These were followed by bronze weapons and implements, which were in use among the Romans for some purposes up to about the time of the Christian era, bronze surgical instru ments having been found at Pompeii. This bronze, like steel, could be made soft for work ing into shape, and then hardened, but by the opposite means used for hardening and soft emit!" of steel, bronze being softened by sudden cooling from a red heat, and hardened by slow cooling. Some cities in Spain and the n. of Italy acquired a high reputation for the manufacture of cutting instruments, more particularly swords, during the middle ages, when the chivalry of the period sought the best equipments. Latterly, all countries have been outstripped by England as regards tastefulness, excellence, and cheapness in cutlery. In this kind of manufacture, the lead is taken by Sheffield, which had gained a name for its whittles as early as the reign of Richard I. Why, will their ingenuity, taste, and skill in the arts, neither the French nor Belgians succeed in their C., would be difficult to explain. Certain it is that their C. is comparatively inferior as regards temper and finish, while their apparent incapability of making the delicate hinges and springs of clasp-knives has provoked repeated remark. At the same time, it is to be allowed that foreign C. is rapidly improving. particularly in table knives, on which a few years have made is great difference in France. In the manufae: ture of American axes, Canada has made most marvelous advances, its produce as respects this article excelling that of England.
Good are made of steel and iron welded together; the Um", which goes into the handle, and the shoulder, are of iron, and the blade of steel. The tang and
shoulder are forged from bar-iron, and the blade from shear or cast steel. Knife-blades, razor-blades, and other small articles, are usually forged into their required shape while still attached to the bar, which serves for the workmen to hold them by, and is called the "porter." When the bar becomes too short, it is grasped in a pair of tongs held close by a ring which clamps them by sliding up their conical handles. Two men are employed in forging such work, which is said to be "two-handed." The principal workman, or "fireman," uses a small hammer of 2 to 4 lbs. weight, while the "hammer man" wields the sledge-hammer, weighing from 10 to 15 lbs. The "fireman," who attends the beating as well as the anvil-work, directs the hammerman, whose blows merely follow those of the small directing hammer of the fireman. In drawing down or reducing a bar both in length and width, the flat face of the hammer is used; but when the length or breadth alone is to be extended, only the "pane" or narrow edge of the hammer. The concavity of razor-blades is made by hammering the blade on a small round-faced anvil; the notch or "nail-hole" of a penknife is struck by means of a chisel of the required form. Superior work, such as razor-blades, arc walked after forging— that is, beaten upon an anvil, to condense the metal as much as possible—and slightly ground or scorched on a rough stone, to finish the shaping, and remove the "scale" or black oxidized surface, which would interfere with the color of the tempering. Common knives are made entirely of iron, and the difference of price arises not merely from the difference of cost of the material, but from the greater facility of working. It should also be understood that, in many articles composed of steel welded to iron, the saving of steel is not the only advantage, for steel being more brittle than wrought iron, it is very desirable, in all articles subject to a transverse breaking strain or to concussion, that every part except the cutting or working edge should be ofiron. Thus, a hatchet made entirely of steel would be far less durable than one of iron with a welded steel cutting edge. A table-knife with a steel tang would be weaker than one with an iron tang. Hammers should only be faced with steel, etc.