Mystery Knife Guessing Game.

RedFury said:
Like Arathol, the best I could come up with by searching the internet was some sort of spreader used in the baking. However, I don't buy that because the tool is just too sturdy. Probably just a boring old putty knife. One hundred fifty years ago tools were made with more reverence than they are now so something quite mundane might be fully forged and fitted with a high quality wood handle.
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Yes, very true. :thumbup:

Thanks.
 
Cambertree said:
Ooh, it feels like we're getting close on knife number 1!

Gevo, FatCity67, irona and John - all good guesses. Personally, I'm leaning towards some clay/putty/lead/paint shaping tool myself, rather than a glaziers tool.

Irona, you seemed quite sure of your answer. :thumbup: Do you happen to have any evidence or references that could solve the purpose of this mystery knife definitively?
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I don't have the exact model or anything, if that's what you're asking, but..
(I called it a painters knife, the correct name is palette knife)
f0e433fb23b49099cb35fc51e6f4e0f5.png

I'm also guessing that the 'edge' is on the long flat side (on the bottom side in my picture), and that it flexes parallel to the 'edge'?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
Cambertree said:
You're so right.

There's actually an annual country fair here in Victoria called the Kyneton Lost Trades Fair. I'm not sure, but I guess there might be similar events in parts of the US and Europe. There's definitely a large reservoir of skilled old time tradespeople here, many from old British trade and craft traditions.

I went one year, camping around and exploring the old goldfields around there, while I was out there, and it was very interesting.

It was good to see the booth run by Adam and Terri Parker from the Australian Knifemakers Guild seemed surrounded constantly by a crowd of people, three deep. I remember also being impressed with a Cordwainers stall of awesome handmade leather shoes, and a fletcher making arrows, and a whole stall of ornate Corn Dollies and information about that ancient rural tradition.

I think I've got some photos somewhere, I'll email you some - maybe put some up in The Lounge later...

https://www.google.com.au/amp/s/amp...are-trades-20160313-gnhwbu.html?client=safari

https://www.google.com.au/amp/s/amp...rades-fair-20160310-gnfaqk.html?client=safari

http://www.losttrades.info

Um, so back to the knives -

Herder my friend :), I think you may have 'dobbed yourself in', as we say here.

I think I might nominate you to find and put up an image of the next obscure knife, for us to guess the purpose of, once we've identified this one accurately.

(That is, if you want to, of course! :thumbup: )
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Great links Cambertree!!! It warms my heart to see more revived interest and even fairs dedicated to lost arts.

I surely didn't resolve anything with your blades and just threw out a few ideas along with others, but I sure have enjoyed these "mysteries" :)
I'd like to keep this thread going and would be happy to add a few head scratchers to the mix. I'll start with an easier one and dial it up a bit for one or two more...

Enclosed is a cast iron handle with a short steel blade attached; what did this tool cut???

 
Valenciamanu said:
I hope you find it. The truth is that those are not mine. I think the shape can be for drawing tecnico.Pero is a supposition. Even if this sharp can be to review pencils or sharpen bird feathers. But I do not know for sure. I used a scalpel when drawing a line. A greeting.
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Thanks Valenciamaru - I always enjoy seeing those old, well made, more unusual knife patterns and tools.

Yes, I agree, those knives you showed would make nice scribes or marking knives as well. A little bit similar to the Japanese kiridashi, in some ways.

Nice to see you posting here, my friend. Thank you.
 
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irona said:
I don't have the exact model or anything, if that's what you're asking, but..
(I called it a painters knife, the correct name is palette knife)
f0e433fb23b49099cb35fc51e6f4e0f5.png

I'm also guessing that the 'edge' is on the long flat side (on the bottom side in my picture), and that it flexes parallel to the 'edge'?
Click to expand...

Well, irona, it looks like you had good cause to be confident in your answer!
Those really look very similar to Knife Number 1.

In fact, in the absence of a definitive answer, here's what I'm going to do.

I'll drop a line to the Victorian Hand Tool Preservation Society and see what they make of it, and report back here, when I receive an answer.

If anyone discovers anything more, or has any further ideas, then by all means share it here.

And for the moment - I'll provisionally call it either some sort of modified painters palette, or putty type knife. As r8shell conjectured as well, it could have received its curious front edge profile as a customised shop tool, either for those trades above, or maybe pottery or something similar.

That's by no means definitive, but all of your excellent answers have, I reckon come pretty close to the mark.

To everyone participating: thanks for all your top sleuthing!
 
herder said:
Great links Cambertree!!! It warms my heart to see more revived interest and even fairs dedicated to lost arts.

I surely didn't resolve anything with your blades and just threw out a few ideas along with others, but I sure have enjoyed these "mysteries" :)
I'd like to keep this thread going and would be happy to add a few head scratchers to the mix. I'll start with an easier one and dial it up a bit for one or two more...

Enclosed is a cast iron handle with a short steel blade attached; what did this tool cut???

Click to expand...

Excellent choice, my friend.

I can see we're going to have fun here!

That one's very interesting. Is that steel blade attached to the cast handle in a fixed position, or does it pivot?
 
Cambertree said:
N

Well, irona, it looks like you had good cause to be confident in your answer!
Those really look very similar to Knife Number 1.

In fact, in the absence of a definitive answer, here's what I'm going to do.

I'll drop a line to the Victorian Hand Tool Preservation Society and see what they make of it, and report back here, when I receive an answer.

If anyone discovers anything more, or has any further ideas, then by all means share it here.

And for the moment - I'll provisionally call it either some sort of modified painters palette, or putty type knife. As r8shell conjectured as well, it could have received its curious front edge profile as a customised shop tool, either for those trades above, or maybe pottery or something similar.

That's by no means definitive, but all of your excellent answers have, I reckon come pretty close to the mark.

To everyone participating: thanks for all your top sleuthing!
Click to expand...

That's awesome! Thanks!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
Cambertree said:
N

Thanks Valenciamaru - I always enjoy seeing those old, well made, more unusual knife patterns and tools.

Yes, I agree, those knives you showed would make nice scribes or marking knives as well. A little bit similar to the Japanese kiridashi, in some ways.

Nice to see you posting here, my friend. Thank you.
Click to expand...


Despite the language barrier. By his words I am already glad to have participated. A greeting
 
herder said:
Great links Cambertree!!! It warms my heart to see more revived interest and even fairs dedicated to lost arts.

I surely didn't resolve anything with your blades and just threw out a few ideas along with others, but I sure have enjoyed these "mysteries" :)
I'd like to keep this thread going and would be happy to add a few head scratchers to the mix. I'll start with an easier one and dial it up a bit for one or two more...

Enclosed is a cast iron handle with a short steel blade attached; what did this tool cut???

Click to expand...

It looks like a tool to cut tube. Spinning around it.
 
It's very likely some kind of decorator's knife. When some have mentioned baking etc they may also be getting near, but I think it could be to do with plaster moulding or pottery. Used for drawing facets in clay prior to firing? Or for intricate plaster work around ceilings or light hangings in c19th buildings??

Regards, Will
 
Wow, this thread has been busy! :eek: Hoping to catch up soon :thumbup:
 
Will Power said:
It's very likely some kind of decorator's knife. When some have mentioned baking etc they may also be getting near, but I think it could be to do with plaster moulding or pottery. Used for drawing facets in clay prior to firing? Or for intricate plaster work around ceilings or light hangings in c19th buildings??

Regards, Will
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I think your thoughts on how the old Sheffield J. Unley (or J Oxley) may have been used are probably pretty accurate, Will. :thumbup:

I can definitely imagine it too as some sort of tool for shaping clay being spun on a wheel in a particular pattern, or as was suggested, some sort of early 5-in-1 painters or plasterers tool.

I think r8shell may have suggested as well, that it may be for fine plasterwork on certain cornices or fittings, and I can definitely imagine that, but have no knowledge of what those kind of tools would actually look like.
 
Valenciamanu said:
It looks like a tool to cut tube. Spinning around it.
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I think you have it there, Val. It took me a moment to realize there was no scissor action. Spinning around would be the only way it could cut I would think. Now the trick is what sort of tubing or rod? It would seem specific to one size so it would be something where one size gets used a lot and I think it would be something that might only need to be scored rather than cut through.
I don't see wear in the hook. Is that just the photo angle?
 
Probably not correct but just thinking out loud. What about cutting lengths of 1/4" dowel to be used for pins in a furniture shop?
 
Cambertree said:
No worries Jack. :thumbup:

Decembers can be a whirlwind of social activity. You enjoy it, mate. :thumbup:
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This is very true.

I had a red fox stop by yesterday afternoon for about 1/2 an hour. He sat and watched me plow for a bit then bounced back into the woods. All social engagements should go so well.

Clay modelers tool makes some sense.
 
RedFury said:
I think you have it there, Val. It took me a moment to realize there was no scissor action. Spinning around would be the only way it could cut I would think. Now the trick is what sort of tubing or rod? It would seem specific to one size so it would be something where one size gets used a lot and I think it would be something that might only need to be scored rather than cut through.
I don't see wear in the hook. Is that just the photo angle?
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I think the modern cut from 1/8 " to 1" and 1/8 ".aqui you leave a Photo of a cutting moderno.un greeting
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