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What are these?

2K views 18 replies 10 participants last post by  DLK 
#1 · (Edited by Moderator)
I found these in an old (Early 1900s) Master Carpenters Tool chest. Can some one tell me what they are and what they are used for?

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#8 ·
I agree, but it's the sharp point on the other end that's a little weird for that use. I think Don said they were needle sharp which is even odd for a fid which would just be pointed not sharp from the ones I've seen.

But I've also seen a lot of tools come out of old chests that were modified from their original intended purpose, that could have happened too.
 
#9 ·
I agree, but it s the sharp point on the other end that s a little weird for that use. I think Don said they were needle sharp which is even odd for a fid which would just be pointed not sharp from the ones I ve seen.

But I ve also seen a lot of tools come out of old chests that were modified from their original intended purpose, that could have happened too.

- Tim
When I cleaned them up I may have put too much of a point in them, but they looked pretty sharp and pointy to me at the start.

I think they may be marlinspikes. I'm going to ask the nephew of the original tool owner's son if he knows, when I see him. He is hard to get a hold of.

(I bought the chest that contained these tools from this nephew)
 
#10 ·
Basic carving rasp tools called "rifflers". Typically available in course, medium and fine. They're indispensable for both wood carving and stone sculpture, although hard stone will wear the teeth off. Any reputable 19th century trim carpenter would've kept a few on hand just to smooth and blend moldings together and especially useful for handrail joints. You can pay $7.50 for an 8pcs Chinese set (blue plastic thing) or $70 ea for handmade in France (on my wish list).
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#11 ·
My guess would be: They were rifflers salvaged from a factory that makes them, before teeth were cut into them. They were further modified by the salvager who put a point on one for scribing metals and a triangular end for bearing scraping. Strictly a guess.
 
#12 ·
Were these old PA dutch tools?

Something on that order use to be used for a drift to bring large peg holes and tenons into alignment, although I never saw the shaft that short or the working point that small or sharp.
We took a bunch of barns apart many years ago and found tools kinda like that hidden above beams and joists.

Not saying that's what they are, but, they certainly are similar, even to the spoon shaped hand hold for leverage.
 
#13 ·
Could be the point ends are a tang for a wooden handle, then the rifller idea of MrRon and Jim Baldwin mave be coorect except there is no evidence of teeth cut in the "spoon ends". Unless of course as MrRon says they were obtained befor teeth were cut into them.

I would agree with you Dallas that they are draw bores, except the shafts are not tapered and would not have been so pointy.
 
#14 ·
Don, the ones we found didn't have tapered shafts. They all looked a lot like this except for being too short for timber work.

BTW, Houghton? A feller that use to be a friend of mine and his daughters and his wife who is in the hospital live in Baraga.
 
#18 ·
Do you know if he did any rope/knot work? These would make good marlin spikes with what appears to be a fid end on them. A fid has a depression that allows you to more easily pass a line through a rope when making a splice, eye, whipping, or other knot work. Typically a fid is hollowed end to end, but these would work as such.
 
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