What are called “balance-handle” table-knives are those which when
laid on the table, will rest with the blade elevated so as not to
touch the cloth (fig. 2). The object sought in this arrangement, is
to keep the cloth from being soiled, and the manner of attaining it
is simply by making the shoulder project a little and running a small
quantity of lead into the hole of the handle before the “tang” of the
knife is introduced. The blade and handle or “haft” are united by
means of rosin, which is put in powder into the hollow of the handle,
and the tang, being made hot, is forced in, melting the rosin, and
fixing when cool.