Cutlery

Cutlery (Fr. coutellerie), strictly the generic name of cutting instruments, but chiefly used in England for the finer kinds of such, larger kinds coming under the head of tools. Although a fork is not an edged tool, it generally comes under the head of cutlery, possibly for the sake of convenience from its relation to a knife. The Sheffield whittle was known to Chaucer, but it was not till much later that Sheffield really earned the reputation for cutlery which it now enjoys. The springbuck pocket knife seems to have been introduced eaily in the seventeenth century. Naturally swords were perfected at an early period in the history of cutlery. Much interesting information upon the forging, grinding, and handling of blades may be found in Charles Reade's "Put Yourself in His Place."