Nested hunting knife

Claim 2

Hunting knife apparatus, comprising: a larger knife having blade and handle portions, said handle portion having a groove extending longitudinally therealong open at the end of said handle portion remote from said blade portion; a smaller knife having blade and handle portions separate from those of said larger knife, said smaller knife configured and arranged relative to said handle portion of the larger knife to be inserted into said groove through said remote end of said handle portion of the larger knife and to be substantially completely received within said groove; guide means on said handle portion of the larger knife configured and arranged to guide said smaller knife longitudinally along said groove; and detent means carried by one of said larger and smaller knives and engageable with the other of said larger and smaller knives to retain said smaller knife within said groove, said detent means being disengagable to allow complete withdrawal of said smaller knife from said groove, said groove being open along a sufficient length of said handle portion of the larger knife to allow easy grasping of said smaller knife while within said groove to facilitate insertion and removal of the smaller knife.

Claim 3

Apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein said handle portion of the larger knife comprises a pair of laterally spaced tangs extending rearwardly from said blade portion of the larger blade and defining said groove between said tangs.

Claim 4

Apparatus as set forth in claim 2, wherein said pair of tangs are substantially parallel arranged and complementally curved along the lengths thereof.

Claim 5

Apparatus as set forth in claim 2, wherein said guide means include at least one side support element on each side of said tangs, each of said elements intersecured to and laterally traversing said pair of tangs.

Claim 6

Apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein said guide means comprise a pair of pommell bolsters secured to opposite sides of said handle portion of the larger knife adjacent said remote end thereof and laterally traversing said groove.

Claim 7

Apparatus as set forth in claim 5, wherein said guide means further comprise a pair of guard bolsters secured to opposite sides of said handle portion of the larger knife adjacent said blade portion of the larger knife, said guard bolsters laterally traversing said groove.

Claim 8

Apparatus as set forth in claim 6, further including an insert of rigid, blade protecting material in said groove and secured to said guard bolsters, said insert having an aperture therein for snugly receiving the tip of said blade portion of the smaller knife in surrounding, protective arrangement.

Claim 9

Apparatus as set forth in claim 1, further including an insert of rigid, blade protecting material disposed in said groove adjacent said blade portion of the larger knife, said insert having an aperture therein for snugly receiving the tip of said blade portion of the smaller knife in surrounding, protective arrangement.

Claim 10

Apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein said detent means is carried on said larger knife.

Claim 11

Apparatus as set forth in claim 9, wherein said detent means comprises a resilient cantilever having one end permanently secured to said handle portion of the larger knife, the other end of said cantilever releasably engageable with said handle portion of the smaller knife.

Claim 12

Apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein said blade portion of the smaller knife includes a honed knife edge, said smaller knife configured whereby said knife edge thereof does not contact said larger knife when placed in said groove.

Claim 13

Apparatus as set forth in claim 11, wherein said blade portion of the smaller knife is of less lateral width than said handle portion of the smaller knife to prevent contact of said knife edge with said handle portion of the larger knife while said smaller knife is in said groove.

Claim 14

A combination hunting knife, comprising: a larger hunting knife having integral blade and handle portions, said handle portion including a pair of laterally spaced substantially parallel, curved upper and lower tangs extending longitudinally rearwardly from said handle portion, said tangs defining a longitudinal, elongated groove therebetween; a pair of side guard bolsters affixed to said larger knife adjacent the end of said tangs proximate said blade portion and enclosing a first section of said groove; a pair of side pommell bolsters affixed to said tangs at the end thereof remote from said blade portion and enclosing a second section of said groove; a smaller scalpel knife having integrally formed blade and handle portions separate from those of said larger knife, said scalpel knife sized and configured to be substantially completely inserted through said second section of the groove to a stored position snugly fitting in said groove with the tip of said blade portion of the scalpel knife fitting within said first section of the groove; an insert of rigid, blade protective material secured to said pair of guard bolsters and located within said first section of the groove, said insert having an aperture therein configured and arranged to snugly receive said tip of the scalpel knife in surrounding, protective arrangement; said upper tang having a longitudinally extending slit at said remote end to define a thin cantilever having one end integral with said upper tang, said cantilever laterally shiftable toward and away from said lower tang; a detent affixed to the other end of said cantilever, said detent operable upon inserting said scalpel knife into said groove to said stored position to snap over and engage the end of said handle portion of the scalpel knife to lock the latter in said stored position to permit use of said larger knife with said scalpel knife stored therein, said cantilever being shiftable to disengage said detent from said scalpel knife to allow complete withdrawal of said scalpel knife from said larger knife and thereupon allow independent use of said scalpel knife and larger knife; and said groove being open between said pairs of guard and pommell bolsters to allow easy grasping of the sides of said scalpel knife while in its stored position to facilitate removal of the scalpel knife from said groove.

Claim 15

A combination hunting knife, comprising: a larger hunting knife having integral blade and handle portions, said handle portion including a pair of laterally spaced substantially parallel, curved upper and lower tangs extending longitudinally rearwardly from said handle portion, said tangs defining a longitudinal, elongated groove therebetween; a pair of side guard bolsters affixed to said larger knife adjacent the end of said tangs proximate said blade portion and enclosing a first section of said groove; a pair of side pommell bolsters affixed to said tangs at the end thereof remote from said blade portion and enclosing a second section of said groove; a smaller scalpel knife having integrally formed blade and handle portions separate from those of said larger knife, said scalpel knife sized and configured to be substantially completely inserted through said second section of the groove to a stored position snugly fitting in said groove with the tip of said blade portion of the scalpel knife fitting within said first section of the groove; an insert of rigid, blade protective material secured to said pair of guard bolsters and located within said first section of the groove, said insert having an aperture therein configured and arranged to snugly receive said tip of the scalpel knife in surrounding, protective arrangement; said upper tang having a longitudinally extending slit at said remote end to define a thin cantilever having one end integral with said upper tang, said cantilever laterally shiftable toward and away from said lower tang; a detent affixed to the other end of said cantilever, said detent operable upon inserting said scalpel knife into said groove to said stored position to snap over and engage the end of said handle portion of the scalpel knife to lock the latter in said stored position to permit use of said larger knife with said scalpel knife stored therein, said cantilever being shiftable to disengage said detent from said scalpel knife to allow complete withdrawal of said scalpel knife from said larger knife and thereupon allow independent use of said scalpel knife and larger knife; and said groove being open between said pairs of guard and pommell bolsters to allow easy grasping of the sides of said scalpel knife while in its stored position to facilitate removal of the scalpel knife from said groove.