ANOTHER UNUSUAL SLITTING/MARKING GAUGE/MALLET...

[BentonTool]

Hello Brothers,

Just kidding... it is not a mallet, but, it could be used as one. It is very heavy. The second picture shows a six-inch scale for size.

I bought this somewhere on the coast of Maine (USA) many years ago, and it awaited my retirement for restoration.
As with most of my used tools, it was in sad shape. I suspect it was originally a shipbuilder's tool, as most of the exotic-wood tools are in that region.

The body is made of lignum vitae, and the stem is a fruitwood (looks like apple to me). The cutter and wedges were missing, so I made a cutter from a knife blank, and replaced the wedges with some cocobolo. Lastly, I applied a bone wear-surface to the tip, pinned with brass.

At my age, I find myself more attracted to lignum vitae, boxwood, ebony, and rosewood than to (most) women...

Merry Christmas to all!

 

[Orraloon]

Its a chunky marking gauge but then if it was used in boatbuilding it was likely user made and hefty was the required feature . The bone ware strip is a good addition.
Regards
John

 

[Cabinetman]

Interesting piece, and LARGE! But I can’t quite work out why the bone rubbing strip is at the end that where it doesn’t really need protecting, and then just a little bit around the cutting edge too?

 

[Fred48]

Hello Brothers,

Just kidding... it is not a mallet, but, it could be used as one. It is very heavy. The second picture shows a six-inch scale for size.

I bought this somewhere on the coast of Maine (USA) many years ago, and it awaited my retirement for restoration.
As with most of my used tools, it was in sad shape. I suspect it was originally a shipbuilder's tool, as most of the exotic-wood tools are in that region.

The body is made of lignum vitae, and the stem is a fruitwood (looks like apple to me). The cutter and wedges were missing, so I made a cutter from a knife blank, and replaced the wedges with some cocobolo. Lastly, I applied a bone wear-surface to the tip, pinned with brass.

At my age, I find myself more attracted to lignum vitae, boxwood, ebony, and rosewood than (most) women...

Merry Christmas to all!

View attachment 194679

View attachment 194680

View attachment 194681

View attachment 194682

View attachment 194683

very interesting and a lovely restoration
and a merry Christmas to you
Fred

 

[BentonTool]

Interesting piece, and LARGE! But I can’t quite work out why the bone rubbing strip is at the end that where it doesn’t really need protecting, and then just a little bit around the cutting edge too?

Dear Cabinetman,
My apologies for the delay, but, it is the season...
I need to get out to the shop to take a few pictures in order to respond appropriately to your query.
I constantly forget to take "before" pictures, which would have explained it all very well.
I shall be back soon with a response...
Merry Christmas!