Mystery object ? Any thoughts?

[GazPal]

Perhaps the most appropriate question is not 'what is it' but 'what can I use it for, now that I have it'

K

It's a good conversation piece if nothing else.

 

[bugbear]

So anyone got an actual name for this tool, now we know what it's for?

BugBear

 

[jimi43]

So anyone got an actual name for this tool, now we know what it's for?

BugBear

I had an uncle who was a crusty old docker...can we call it that if nothing surfaces?!!! :mrgreen:

Jim

 

[dickm]

Still not convinced it's for docking. The tool below in the picture, with the recess in one blade and corresponding cutter in the other certainly looks the part, but the measurement scale on the OP's one seems not to have a purpose relative to a tail?
Or am I missing something?

 

[GazPal]

Still not convinced it's for docking. The tool below in the picture, with the recess in one blade and corresponding cutter in the other certainly looks the part, but the measurement scale on the OP's one seems not to have a purpose relative to a tail?
Or am I missing something?

The scale is apparently (According to Ms P) a means of measuring distance from base of tail to the preferred length for docking. Perhaps it's clamping action allows for surplus skin to be drawn taught prior to the amputation, which then provides leeway for a protective flap of skin sewn across the wound???

 

[adidat]

Measuring the correct skin sounds plauseable, but the clamping pressure would not be even on one end to the other.

Adidat

 

[GazPal]

Measuring the correct skin sounds plauseable, but the clamping pressure would not be even on one end to the other.

Adidat

It's purpose could be singular or multiple. Clamping doesn't need to be even in terms of blood supply, but another purpose for such a clamp could well be as a means toward keeping hair out of the way during the procedure. It does look like a large hair grip

 

[AndyT]

Still not convinced it's for docking. The tool below in the picture, with the recess in one blade and corresponding cutter in the other certainly looks the part, but the measurement scale on the OP's one seems not to have a purpose relative to a tail?
Or am I missing something?

The scale is apparently (According to Ms P) a means of measuring distance from base of tail to the preferred length for docking. Perhaps it's clamping action allows for surplus skin to be drawn taught prior to the amputation, which then provides leeway for a protective flap of skin sewn across the wound???

So maybe those markings are average sized vertebrae, not inches?

I've been flicking through nineteenth century horse manuals on Open Library / archive.org but haven't found any positive ID yet. There are plenty of references to tail docking being barbaric and unnecessary!

I've learnt that here was an even nastier procedure called 'nicking' where tail muscles were partially cut in order to re-shape the tail; also a fashion for clipping the ears to a more decorative shape. If this is for any of those, it's definitely not a tool to use again!

 

[toolsntat]

Thanks for the input folks =D>

Would be nice to get a definitive name for the tool.....
Looks like a trip to the library :wink:

Cheers
Andy