Clasp knife

Abstract

A clasp knife has a handle lying generally in a plane and forming an elongated recess extending longitudinally in the plane, open laterally of the plane, and having an outer longitudinally open end formed with a retaining formation. A pivot pin at the outer end defines an axis substantially parallel to the plane and transverse to the recess. A blade lying generally in a plane including the axis has a cutting edge extending generally perpendicular to the axis adjacent the axis, pivots on the pin about the axis between a closed position received in the recess and an extended position with the blade plane generally coplanar with the handle plane, moves limitedly axially relative to the handle between a pair of end positions, and has a formation fitting complementary with the handle formation in one of the end positions. A spring braced axially between the blade and the body urges the blade into the one end position. A catch element is displaceable between a holding position engaging the blade in the extended position thereof and retaining the blade in the extended position and a releasing position out of engagement with the blade.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.