Tool question

[clarksvillejoe]

My friend's father had passed some time ago and we were going thru his rondy box. Found this tool and do not know its use. The handle was stamped Taiwan so we know it does not belong but the tool head was very sharp. Guessing for knapping flint ?? Any help would be appreciated. Joe

 

[Thomas.bill92]

It's for punching holes in leather so your stitching is nice and even. I think they are called stitching punches or chisels.

 

[Grenadier1758]

Its for making the slots for sewing leather. It punches 8 holes in a line.

Amazon.com: 4 PCS Leather Stitching Punch, Leather Hole Punch, 1/2/4/6 DIY Diamond Lacing Stitching Chisel Set, Stainless Steel Leather Craft Tool Hole Punches

 

[clarksvillejoe]

Thanks gents. Didn't occur to us. His dads box had pretty much everything else to repair flintlocks remotely.

 

[Doughty]

It's for making the holes for LACING leather.

 

[sawyer04]

That is a wide one!

 

[Sidney Smith]

Nah, that's a beard comb. Makes nice cornrows.

 

[Archer 756]

It should say what stich size on side

 

[Brokennock]

Like @Doughty said it is to make evenly spaced slots for lacing leather projects.
not stitching/sewing leather. Big difference.

 

[Mad Michael]

As brokennock noted this particular one is for punching holes for lacing. They come in different widths on the chisels for different size lace. I've about 3 of that kind on my leather working bench. The lower end models have a tendency to bend if used in thick or stiff leather. Ones for Stitching are also made with round or triangular or diamond shaped tines.

Mad Michael.

 

[Thomas.bill92]

Well shoot, everyone is quick to tell me I'm wrong but nobody will tell me the difference!

 

[oldwood]

Your not wrong about anything. It is a leather stitching punch.

 

[Brokennock]

Well shoot, everyone is quick to tell me I'm wrong but nobody will tell me the difference!

Differences are, this tool makes slots, that are fairly wide, and,,, the ends line up with eachother. A proper pricking iron for stitching/sewing generally makes very small diamond shape holes or impressions that are at a slight angle so the points don't actually line up, but they are all in an even row.

I will take some pictures for you when I get home this afternoon.

 

[Kestrel]

I believe it is called a pricking iron. I have a set of five and they are invaluable for making a nice looking, laced, leather project.

 

[Capnball]

My friend's father had passed some time ago and we were going thru his rondy box. Found this tool and do not know its use. The handle was stamped Taiwan so we know it does not belong but the tool head was very sharp. Guessing for knapping flint ?? Any help would be appreciated. JoeView attachment 94870View attachment 94871

Thats a lacing prick. It's different from a stitching prick because it's flat. It cuts flat hole or slot more suitable for leather lacing rather than thread. Good for making pouches you want to look more rustic or authentic than a modern saddle stitch.

 

[Grenadier1758]

In my opinion, I believe that the saddle stitching is more authentic than stitching with the flat leather lacing.

 

[flntlokr]

It's for punching holes in leather so your stitching is nice and even. I think they are called stitching punches or chisels.

Yer right.

 

[Brokennock]

Thats a lacing prick. It's different from a stitching prick because it's flat. It cuts flat hole or slot more suitable for leather lacing rather than thread. Good for making pouches you want to look more rustic or authentic than a modern saddle stitch.

Please,, indulge us with some period examples or support for using lacing as opposed to a saddle stitch. You know, the saddle stitching that was being used for saddle and harness work at the time.

Spanish influenced leather work might show use of lacing. English, French, German, Dutch,,,,,, not so much.

 

[Brokennock]

Well shoot, everyone is quick to tell me I'm wrong but nobody will tell me the difference!

Two pricking irons, or stitching chisels. Not the best on the market but they work. 2 different numbers of stitches per inch with the higher number one also being of finer teeth thus smaller holes.

Technically they are not even supposed to be punched all the way through the leather. They are to mark out your stitch spacing and guide you in keeping your diamond bladed awl oriented the seller throughout the line of stitching.
The awl is what pierces the leather.

Marks come out like this,

That is 2 presentations of the finer one in between a messed up one of the coarser on top and another coarse one on the bottom.

 

[Mad Michael]

What Brokennock says is true. Without falling to far down a etymological hole, That particular punch is designed to produce one of the variations on a round braid lacing, all of which look something like this:

note how the leather goes around the edge creating a new one.

Stitching per se is usually a straight line, not lapping over the edge, with a few exceptions like a blanket stitch (not the only one). Here is a drawing showing stitches marked and punched with a angled diamond punch.:

Not the only use of the words as you can lace up your cod, unlace or lace a ladies bodice or corset, lace you boots etc. And lace itself in most of the Muzzle loading era will refer to a particular kind of decoration on military coats, and all the lacework found on macaroni type clothing and any dress clothing before the Victorian era.

The drawings are from Ron Edwards Bushcraft 8 Bush Leatherwork, 1984, The Rams Skull Press, Box 274 Kuranda, QLD, 4872, Austrailia

Now that I am standing up to my ears in that etymological hole, I need to pull myself out before someone fills it in,

I am Mad Michael.