Short Shaft 6.35mm Corby Bolts

Description

They are not named after the town of Corby. They are after a man — Harold Corby.

The inventor

Harold Corby was one of the original American custom knifemakers.

He is described as a true Tennessean, born and raised in the hills of that state. He left once to train as a gunsmith in Miami, Florida, finally gave up gunsmithing in 1968 and began knifemaking part-time in 1969, going full-time in 1972.

What he actually solved

Before Corby / Loveless, most handles were pinned or riveted. Loveless popularised a system that forms a strong mechanical fixing by assembling the bolt through the blade and handle and then screwing it up tight.

Corby’s version refined it for looks:

• Loveless bolt: when sanded flat it gives the appearance of a bird’s eye because of the brass bolt and steel barrel nut. You see the joint between screw and barrel.
• Corby bolt: With the Corby type all that can be seen is what appears to be a large brass or stainless pin in the handle.

In practice they are both often listed today as “Our most popular products are our Corby rivets, Loveless bolts”, but the Corby gives you that clean, head-only look that finishes like a decorative pin while still mechanically clamping the scales.