Posted 4 years ago
Irishcolle…
(137 items)
I picked up a few old tools at an autojumble at the weekend. This is probably the most interesting. The blade is 1 3/8 inches long. I'm guessing it might have been for cutting string. Does anyone have any other ideas?
Leather knife for shoes??
Stuff
Looks like a leatherworking knife to me too, though possibly also for woodcarving.
See this listing for several other shapes/sizes which are/were used in my trade for both purposes...
https://www.collectorsweekly.com/stories/255838-and-still-more-old-pipe-organ-tools--v?in=collection-7034
This was for carving, trimming, utility use. The exacto knife knife came from this type knife and blade. The Exacto is common in the trades but this one isn't seen often anymore.
Thanks for the comments Stuff and fhrjr2 and thanks for the link AnythingObscure. Some similar blades there except for the notch.
from images here looks like the 'hook' is broken off and this is similar to the can opener in this link:
http://ancientpoint.com/inf/159119-antiquevintage_j___a___henckels_can_opener_bottle_opener_made_in_germany.html
here's an example with patent info:
https://www.etsy.com/listing/205641181/vintage-steel-and-wood-claw-knife-can?show_sold_out_detail=1
Interesting link TallCakes, that's a possibility. Thank you.
One other thing that might bear remembering here. 'Back in the day' (that this knife appears to be from, as well as most of my old organ knives) folks in general were a bit more resourceful with their tools than nowadays. If you look closely at my old knives, most are obviously 'homemade' from what was first some other knife (or file, or can opener, or whatever) which, quite possibly, had already become worn out or broken in its own right. In the case of mine, several have been reground into kinda specific shapes for their intended usage in my trade, and I can't help but to think that other craftsmen in their own trades back then were unaccustomed to making their own 'special purpose' tools for whatever particular task was at hand...? Just an observation...? ;-) :-)
Good point, I have several old tools made from worn out items. I will post some of them soon.