Composite cutting blade and method of making the blade

A folding blade knife comprising:

• a complete blade means having an elongated body section composed of a strong tough material that is the load bearing member of said blade means and an elongated cutting edge section composed of a hard wear resistant material shaped to a cutting edge;
• said body section having an upper edge and a lower edge;
• a dovetail formed in the lower edge of said body section;
• said cutting edge section having an upper edge and a lower cutting edge;
• a dovetail formed in the upper edge of said cutting edge section that matches the dovetail in said body section;
• said body section and said cutting edge section being permanently joined together by press fitting the dovetailed edges together and peening the dovetailed joint;
• a handle means in which said blade means is rotatably mounted;
• manually releasable locking means mounted in said handle means that includes a liner means mounted so as to be positioned adjacent said blade means when said blade means is in a folded position, said liner means including a spring finger means having a ball detent mounted thereon that is biased against said blade when said blade is in a closed position;
• and
• said folding blade means having a hemispherical recess formed therein that is sized and positioned on the blade so that the recess receives the ball detent when the blade is folded, thereby securing the blade in a closed and protected position in said blade.