• Born: 2 Mar 1811, Meriden CT
• Marriage (1): Harriet Maria Bronson on 8 Dec 1841 in Waterbury CT
• Died: 30 Jan 1874

  General notes:

Cutlery manufacturer

  Events in his life were:

• He was issued patent number 2,052 on 16 Apr 1841
  
  ZINA K. MURDOCK, OF MERIDEN, CONNECTICUT.
  
  METHOD OF MANUFACTURING HANDLES FOR KNIVES AND OTHER TABLE-CUTLERY.
  
  Specification of Letters Patent No. 2,052, dated April 16, 1841.
  
  To all whom it may concern:
  Be it known that I, ZINA K. MURDOCK, of Meriden, in the county of New Haven and State of Connecticut, have invented a new and useful method of manufacturing handles for table-cutlery from ivory, bone, or other similar substances, thereby saving much valuable stock and producing a handle of novel construction, firm, beautiful, and less expensive than those in common use; and I hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the form and construction thereof, reference being had to the annexed drawings, making a part of this specification, in and by which—
  Figure 1 represents a four inch handle, or a handle for a common sized table knife, made of 4 thin pieces of polished ivory, locked together by grooves and bound by the ferrule A, on one end, and a cap, B, on the other, leaving a hollow square for the shank of the knife, which is to pass through the same and be riveted firmly in the cap on the end of the handle; the hollow of the handle around the shank being filled and made solid with cement, or otherwise. Fig. 2 represents the ivory plates put together, the ferrule A and the cap B being taken off. Fig. 3, represents one of the edge plates, both being alike, about f of an inch broad and of thickness about as No. 12 wire gage, with a groove near each rounded edge to receive the side plates as seen Fig. 4. These side plates are broadest at the capped end averaging about 3/4 of an inch in width, and in thickness about as No. 16 wire gage. Fig. 2, A, shows the ferrule for the end next the blade, B, the cap for the other end to receive and by rivet hold fast the end of the shank. The several dimensions here given will vary proportionally for the several sizes required. The plates forming the handle may be further held in place by glue or a dovetail in the grooves as well as by the ferrule and cap on the ends. The ferrule and cap may be of cast iron made malleable and polished, or of silver or other suitable metal. Handles thus made are less liable to split, or to get loose than solid ones, and show the ivory or other material to better advantage.
  What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent is—
  The mode or method of constructing handles for table cutlery from plates of ivory or bone &c. combined substantially in the manner specified above.
  
  March 22, 1841
  
  Zina K. Mukdock
  
  Witnesses:
  Simeon Baldwin
  Rofer S. Baldwin

Zina married Harriet Maria Bronson, daughter of Bennet Bronson and Anna Smith, on 8 Dec 1841 in Waterbury CT. (Harriet Maria Bronson was born on 13 Sep 1815 in Waterbury CT.)