Two tools - any idea?

[RogerP]

Couple of tools here that slightly puzzle me. The top one is basically a solid steel taper with that shaped end. The bottom one at first glance it looks like a scraper but the end is softly rounded on both sides and not sharp at all - it's not by wear.

Any ideas?

 

[Glynne]

The top one looks like my first metal working project at school (nearly 50 years ago).
It was meant to be a combination awl / marking knife - the one we had to make had a twist in the middle and I think this was more about how you twisted metal rather than anything functional.

 

[RogerP]

Again the flat end is rounded and wouldn't mark metal. I have a suspicion they're both leather working tools?

 

[tobytools]

I agree, second tools is a turning chisel.
post the pic in a new threat on the lathe forum and they will confirm and its uses,
Hope this helps.
TT

 

[tobytools]

The top one looks like my first metal working project at school (nearly 50 years ago).
It was meant to be a combination awl / marking knife - the one we had to make had a twist in the middle and I think this was more about how you twisted metal rather than anything functional.

With the first tools im sure I've seen similar tools made from nails ect "custom tool"

I don't think leather and the handle looks very much a turning chisel
TT

 

[Glynne]

Sorry - should have said it was meant for woodworking!

 

[ossieosborne]

The top one is definately a combination marking tool. I got one too!

Oz

 

[johnwc812]

Hi
The top tool is a woodwork marking knife come awl.
I am sure they were available commercially, possibly Moore and Wright
I think it was called a striking knife.
Always looked dangerous to me as the pointy end was near your eye when using the knife.
Cheers John

 

[JohnPW]

I've got the top one. I've always thought it's a scriber for scracthing throught the blue ink you put on metal. Could be used for woodwork though, but the flat end has a double bevel, if it was specifically for woodwork I would have it thought it should have a single bevel.

 

[wizard]

this is an Engineers Scraper

 

[AndyT]

Ok, the first one is a double ended marking awl. Both ends should be sharp - and dangerous!

Marples' price in 1938 was 3s per dozen - threepence each!

The second one is an engineer's scraper. Here's the range offered by Buck and Hickman in 1935:

Five sizes of your flat one - which could have cost as much as 3s 6d. Scrapers were used by engineers to remove metal for precision fitting. The metal should be very hard, but the edge could still be worn down blunt like this one I bought last weekend:

 

[wizard]

1935 Buck and Hickman Catalogue :mrgreen:

 

[AndyT]

1935 Buck and Hickman Catalogue :mrgreen:

They aren't that hard to find and I didn't pay much for mine. You can also see most of the hand tool pages in the extract available as a free pdf from here:

http://www.roseantiquetools.com/id220.html

 

[RogerP]

Thanks everyone for all the input and advice. Marvellous forum!

Always looked dangerous to me as the pointy end was near your eye when using the knife.
Cheers John

Just given it a quick try and I must agree! Don't like it at all!

but the edge could still be worn down blunt like this one I bought last weekend:

I guess that's it but mine is much more worn down and wouldn't be much use as a scraper - I'll fix it!

 

[chipmunk]

This is just a suggestion but one way I'd venture to find out if it's an engineer's scraper would be to test the hardness with a file. My guess would be that if the file skates across the surface then it is hard enough to be a scraper.

Otherwise then back to the drawing board and a second suggestion would be a pole lathe turner's flat chisel - used like a skew chisel for planing cuts.

HTH
Jon

 

[RogerP]

Thanks Jon I'd tried that and indeed it is too hard for a file so - it's a scraper.