Cutlery

edged instruments. The term is akin to colter, from the Latin culter, meaning a knife. No doubt prehistoric man used the silver of a bone or the splinter of a bamboo for many purposes for which we use a knife. The most primitive edged tools found in caves and burial places are sharp-edged flakes of flint, obsidian, or similar stones. The first metal knives and daggers were made of bronze. Later came iron instruments, and, last of all, came steel. The ancient Greeks and Romans understood the use of steel; yet as late as the beginning of the Christian era surgeons as well as warriors used bronze cutlery. Both swords and lancets of bronze have been found in the excavations of Pompeii. Among the celebrated swords of the Middle Ages were the Damascus blades made in Syria, and the sword blades of Toledo, Spain. Sheffield, England, was noted as a center of the cutlery business as early as the time of Chaucer, one of whose characters bore a Sheffield whittle in his hose. Sheffield is still the great center of table and pocket cutlery. Birmingham leads in the making of swords and implements. The jointed knife, now known as a jackknife, is said to have been introduced into England from the Low Countries in the reign of Elizabeth. The spring back was invented a century later.

The making of a good blade, whether for a knife or a razor, is an art in itself. Forging, hardening, tempering, grinding, and polishing have been reduced to a system; so that, of a score of knives or razors of a given brand, especially of more expensive makes, there is little difference in quality.

The term cutlery is somewhat elastic. Table knives, with dull edges, and forks, with no edge at all, are included with clasp knives, razors, scissors, and similar articles under the name of cutlery; while sickles, scythes, and a great number of other sharp-edged tools are considered implements, or else they are grouped with surgical, instruments, pruning knives, butchers' and shoemakers' knives, chisels, and augurs, under the head of edged tools.

In keeping with their usual reputation for inventive genius, American manufacturers have introduced many improved methods in the making of tools, knives, and razors. American cutlery now ranks with the best European makes, and some lines find a large European market. The business of making cutlery is now an important one. The following statistics are taken from the United States census report:

See Sheffield; Tools; Toledo; Sword