Drawknife -Can anyone tell me more?

[syntec4]

Hello all,
I found this drawknife in a field behind my workshop.

Can anyone tell me a little about it. I'm guessing its pretty old as it must have been in the field for years. Is it any good (it works great) and should I restore it or just sharpen it and use it.

Cheers
Lee.

More Pictures here http://community.webshots.com/album/549938847gZZIzI

 

[Alf]

Lee,

Looking in Hand-saw Makers of Britain (yeah, I know - but bear with me) there's a Joseph Tyzack & Son, Meersbrook Works, Valley Road, Heely, Sheffield listed between 1895 and 1915. Apparently they were "Ltd" by 1899 and in London by 1914, so assuming he was the only Jos Tyzack making tools with his son (it's a big toolmaking name, Tyzack), and I don't mind making that assumption if you don't :wink: , we can deduce this drawknife possibly dates between 1895 and 1899. It's in flippin' good nick for a 100 yr old+ tool that was found in a field. :shock:

I'd say it doesn't look like it needs much, if any, restoration at all (that's "patina", chum :wink: ); sharpen it up and enjoy using it. Lucky blighter... :mrgreen:

Cheers, Alf

 

[syntec4]

Ooh thats interesting. Thanks ALF.

I think the reason that its in so good a condition is the place I found it. The farm where my workshop is located, used to be a brick works until about 1910. The soil is basicaly thick clay. The Drawknife was caked in the stuff, just the top edge of one of the handles was exposed to the air. I only spoted it as I was bent over picking up some sticks for the Hotspot. I reckon its been exposed as this field has recently been turned over to take some Barley. the clay must have stoped all the air/water causing it to rot. I simply washed it all off, soaked it in WD40 and cleaned up the blade with some wire wool.

Glad I found it now, its good fun to use as well.

Cheers
Lee.

 

[Alf]

Yeah, that'd probably do it. Hmm, smearing clay on tools to prevent rust...? :-k Nah, maybe not. :lol:

Cheers, Alf

 

[builderchad]

Lovely find Lee, grats!

 

[Argus]

.

This may have been previously posted, but if not……

There are numerous incarnations of the Tyzack name over r the years.
http://www.tilthammer.com/bio/tyzac.html

Try this site for info; an e mail to Don Tyzack will usually get a reply.
http://homepages.tesco.net/~dontyzack/index.html

.

 

[GEPPETTO]

:shock: Look at what...

..when I say that you live in the "hand tool country".. :wink:

Good rescue syntec4.

Cheers
Gabriele

 

[Neomorph]

Makes you wonder how it got there and who was the last to use it.

Nice one syntec....

 

[Mittlefehldt]

Makes you wonder how it got there and who was the last to use it.

Nice one syntec....

At some point in my life I saw some lads making bricks in moulds, and I am sure that after they filled the moulds with the clay they used something like a draw knife to level the clay in the moulds, that may account for why it was there and so thickly encrusted with clay.

Anyway that's my story and I am sticking to it.

 

[Neomorph]

I'm just imagining an apprentice getting bawled out by his master for mislaying it. :wink:

 

[bugbear]

At some point in my life I saw some lads making bricks in moulds, and I am sure that after they filled the moulds with the clay they used something like a draw knife to level the clay in the moulds, that may account for why it was there and so thickly encrusted with clay.

Anyway that's my story and I am sticking to it.

I think that's normally done with a wire.

BugBear

 

[Anonymous]

Makes you wonder how it got there and who was the last to use it.

Nice one syntec....

At some point in my life I saw some lads making bricks in moulds, and I am sure that after they filled the moulds with the clay they used something like a draw knife to level the clay in the moulds, that may account for why it was there and so thickly encrusted with clay.

Anyway that's my story and I am sticking to it.

Hmm. That reminds me of my first encounter with a draw knife. I was working in a soils laboratory where we measured the optimum moisture/ density relationship of soils by compacting them in a mold. We struck off the soil to the top of the mold with a drawknife. That was many years before I ever put one to use on wood.