Adjustable weighting system in knife handles

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12539628-B2
Application number	US-202217858981-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 6, 2022
Priority date	Jul 6, 2022
Publication date	Feb 3, 2026
Grant date	Feb 3, 2026

Abstract

A knife includes a blade and a handle attached to the blade. The handle includes a liner and a handle scale adapted to be removably secured to the liner, such as by screws. The handle scale has an inner side facing the liner and having a shaped region to secure a weight in a selected position along a length of the handle scale. In one approach, there are multiple discrete positions in which one or more weights can be secured. The weights can be metal discs, for example. In the case of a two-handed knife such as a butterfly knife, both handles can have a similar structure for storing weights. The knife allows the end user to easily customize the weight distribution of a knife without interfering with the envelope or exterior surfaces of the handles.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A knife, comprising:
a blade; and a handle attached to the blade, wherein the handle comprises a first liner and a first handle scale, wherein the first handle scale comprises an inner side facing the first liner and is secured to the first liner, and wherein the inner side of the first handle scale comprises a recessed region defining a plurality of positions within the recessed region in which to secure a plurality of removable weights spaced along a length of the first handle scale, wherein placement of the plurality of removable weights within one or more of the plurality of positions is selectable by a user to control weight distribution of the knife.

2 . The knife of claim 1 , wherein:
at least one of the plurality of positions is separated from an adjacent position of the plurality of positions by a distance which is less than a width of the weight along the length of the first handle scale.

3 . The knife of claim 1 , wherein:
the recessed region comprises a plurality of retention structures spaced apart along the length of the first handle scale; and each retention structure of the plurality of retention structures corresponds to a respective position of the plurality of positions.

4 . The knife of claim 3 , wherein:
the retention structures comprise at least one of tabs, posts or notches.

5 . The knife of claim 1 , wherein:
the recessed region comprises a scalloped edge with a plurality of curved walls; and each curved wall of the plurality of curved walls corresponds to a respective position of the plurality of positions.

6 . The knife of claim 5 , wherein the scalloped edge is on one side of the recessed region, and the knife further comprises a rubber cord on an opposite side of the recessed region to secure the plurality of removable weights.

7 . The knife of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of weights which are to be secured in the recessed region are discs.

8 . The knife of claim 1 , wherein the first handle scale comprises an outer side facing away from the first liner and a viewing port extending from the outer side to the inner side, to allow viewing of whether a weight of the plurality of removable weights is secured in the first handle scale at a location corresponding to the viewing port.

9 . The knife of claim 1 , wherein the handle comprises a second liner, a spacer between the first liner and the second liner, and a second handle scale adapted to be secured to the second liner, the second handle scale comprises an inner side facing the second liner, and the inner side of the second handle scale comprises a second recessed region including a plurality of second positions within the second recessed region in which to secure a second plurality of removable weights spaced along a length of the second handle scale.

10 . The knife of claim 1 , wherein:
the recessed region comprises a first region and a second region; and the first region is sized to secure a heavier one of the plurality of weights than another one of the plurality of weights which can be secured by the second region.

11 . The knife of claim 1 , wherein the knife is a butterfly knife, the knife further comprising:
a second handle attached to the blade, wherein the second handle comprises a respective liner and a respective handle scale, the respective handle scale comprises an inner side facing the respective liner and is secured to the respective liner, and the inner side of the respective handle scale comprises a recessed region having a plurality of positions within the recessed region in which to secure a respective plurality of removable weights spaced along a length of the respective handle scale.

12 . The knife of claim 1 , wherein the knife is a single-handled knife.

Assignees

• Benchmade Knife Co Inc

Inventors

• Delplanche Mark
• Collver Vance
• Dickman Ryan

Classifications

• B26B3/00 Primary

  Hand knives with fixed blades {(handles, attaching the handles B25G)} · CPC title

• B26B1/10 Primary

  Handles · CPC title