Knife ID?

[Chris152]

I'm not sure where to post this, as I have no idea what the knife might be used for. Clearing out mum's garage at the weekend, we found this knife that had belonged to my dad. It has a leather handle, a thick back (5mm) as if it's made for hitting and is about 210mm long. I've no idea if it started life the shape it is now.
Any thoughts on what it may have been used for, if anything in particular?
Thanks, Chris

 

[Lurker]

I have got one almost identical to that, very useful tool to have.

They are for splitting wood, imagine like a small axe but you whack the back of the blade with a hammer.
I guess from the days before wall plugs when bits of wood were used. If you have removed skirting or similar in old houses there will be a square of wood in the brickwork where the nail is driven in.

 

[AJB Temple]

Looks like a putty knife. For doing old fashioned windows. I have one somewhere (ex my father).

Not sure how it was used, but you could clout it with a hammer.

 

[MattS]

I use mine for kindling... I wonder if the leather handle is for dampening the vibrations. Mine is wooden and if the wood is too hard or you're trying to split something too big you feel it through the handle.

 

[Lurker]

Looks like a putty knife. For doing old fashioned windows. I have one somewhere (ex my father).

Not sure how it was used, but you could clout it with a hammer.

Actually thinking about it, it might have been for removing old putty.

 

[Chris152]

Looks like a putty knife. For doing old fashioned windows. I have one somewhere (ex my father).

Not sure how it was used, but you could clout it with a hammer.

Actually thinking about it, it might have been for removing old putty.

I was just looking around the net in response to Adrian's as you posted this, Lurker - I found this:
https://www.collectorsweekly.com/storie ... n=activity
I think we have the answer! More likely to get used for kindling than removing putty in our house tho (PVC windows :-( )
Thanks all.

 

[Chris152]

PS - I should have included these pics with the first post. We also found these odd-looking things - any ideas?

 

[AJB Temple]

soldering irons

 

[AJB Temple]

You heated them up in a brazier or forge or even with a blowtorch. My dad had those too.

 

[Chris152]

Thank you!

My lad's fascinated by his granddad's tools, he was a toolmaker and the boy wants to follow in his footsteps to some extent, so each thing he finds he wants to know all about it.

 

[Lurker]

I still use soldering irons like that for stained glass lead work.

 

[AndyT]

New old stock hacking knives, Sheffield made, only £7.00. Get one before it's too late!

https://gandmtools.co.uk/product/james- ... ing-knife/

 

[Alasdair]

I have got one almost identical to that, very useful tool to have.

They are for splitting wood, imagine like a small axe but you whack the back of the blade with a hammer.
I guess from the days before wall plugs when bits of wood were used. If you have removed skirting or similar in old houses there will be a square of wood in the brickwork where the nail is driven in.

We always used an axe for cutting plugs (or dooks as they are called in this area) havent done any for a while but they were always a terrific fixing and if done right could give really straight and level/plumb results.

 

[Mike Jordan]

I know it as a hacking knife, used As suggested by Andy for removing old putty.

 

[Trevanion]

Clearly used for a plethora of things, but one use I've seen them commonly used for is hacking the staff beads off sliding sash windows to service the sashes or weights, knock it in and pry.

New old stock hacking knives, Sheffield made, only £7.00. Get one before it's too late!

If you can stretch the budget, you can buy brand new Footprint ones, still made!

https://www.uktoolcentre.co.uk/prod...MI4_P6__-v-AIVmrbICh2SbwycEAQYASABEgJ93fD_BwE

 

[Doug71]

Bahco do a modern version, I keep one in my tool bag as it's quite useful.

When bought it comes with stickers all over warning that it's very sharp, I removed the stickers then immediately cut myself quite badly I was using it like a chisel and just wrapped my fingers around the sides of the blade which obviously aren't sharp on a chisel but one edge certainly is sharp on this

https://www.toolstation.com/bahco-wreck ... lsrc=aw.ds

 

[AndyT]

Brilliant!

Who's going to get one of each and do a proper test/review?

 

[Lurker]

I have just rootled out mine.
Plus a cute axe that was my dad’s, I think this was specifically sold as a carpenters axe.

 

[Pete Maddex]

Nice axe, it would make a good spoon carving axe with a nice single bevel on both sides.

Pete

 

[AJB Temple]

Nice axe, it would make a good spoon carving axe with a nice single bevel on both sides.

Pete

If it had a bevel on both sides - how would it be a single bevel?

 

[Pete Maddex]

Nice axe, it would make a good spoon carving axe with a nice single bevel on both sides.

Pete

If it had a bevel on both sides - how would it be a single bevel?

No secondary bevel on each side, its a scandinavian grind, gives you more control.

Pete

 

[AJB Temple]

So a double bevel then with no secondary bevels. I see what you mean now you've clarified :lol:

 

[Pete Maddex]

So a double bevel then with no secondary bevels. I see what you mean now you've clarified :lol:

Yep that’s it, it makes knives and axes much easier to control.

Pete