Buttonhole cutters

here are several buttonhole cutters. From small seamstress buttonholes to large leather rein buttonholes.
Most have a circular punch at the end of the buttonhole. This is so the material doesn't fray at the end of the hole when the strain of the button is on the hole.
Interestingly, if you have, or have access to an old seamstress stool, turn it over and look at the wooden framework. It is possible that you may see small nicks along the rails. This is from the seamstress opening the buttonholes with her buttonhole cutter of an earlier type. Some buttonhole cutters looked like little hatchets and the seamstress would strike the back of the blade with a small hammer to cut the buttonhole.