Thread: Why is this a Firmer Chisel?

Another possibility is a "flat back."

https://dblaney.wordpress.com/2016/0...gister-chisel/

Salaman's Dictionary of Woodworking Tools points to the term being used first around 1870 and was referenced as "Registered or Shipwright's" chisels. Features included originally a tang with square bolster (more latterly a round bolster) incorporating a long ferrule, a strong blade, leather washer and a top ferrule. Not unlike a firmer chisel really!

Regards
Paul

Paul, are you trying to do our collective heads in?

so far it might be concluded that a firmer chisel has square or beveled edges -- with some manufacturers making both types
that some firmer chisels are also referred to as registered chisels
that any chisel with square sides is a registered chisel

and this is what Rober Sorby https://www.robert-sorby.co.uk/registered-firmer-chisel has to say

Registered Firmer Chisel
Thicker than conventional firmer chisels, registered chisels have the inherent strength to chop and lever out waste wood. Tapered from the shoulder to the cutting edge to give additional strength.

So going back to Luke's original question
Jim Bode's 3/4" Union Firmer chisel is a "firmer" because that is how Jim choose to describe it.
Some sources / makers agree with Jim, some disagree.
Perhaps the only point of agreement is that Jim's chisel has a pronounced taper from the shoulder to the cutting edge.

Ian

Yes, I was being a little mischievous. It does seem that there is not really any agreement among the manufacturers even. It seems to me that a bevel chisel is fairly clear cut (oops, sorry about that one - completely unintentional) in that it is, well, beveled along it's length. Firmer seems to indicate a heavier chisel and Registered Firmer is much the same, but possibly heavier again. However, (breathes deeply) at some point a Firmer or Registered Firmer chisel becomes a Mortice chisel (but not a pig sticker, which I think is defined by it's depth being greater than it's width coupled with an oval handle.)

How's the head going now?

Clearly there is a lot of wiggle room for interpretation .

Regards
Paul

and if you are to believe Lee Valley Sorby Registered Mortise Chisels - Lee Valley Tools the Robert Sorby's Registered Mortise Chisels were:
Originally developed for barge builders on the Thames River, these chisels are still popular for rugged use.The blades (4-1/2" to 7" long) are rectangular in cross section and taper 1/16" from the shoulder to the bevel.
The heavy hardwood handles (6-1/2" long) have steel hoops top and bottom and a thick leather shock washer next to the bolster.

While reading this book The History of Woodworking Tools cover shot.JPG
on p. 197 I happened across the following.

"Both straight and splayed types are illustrated in Felibien, the parallel -bladed tool being known as the ciseau and the splayed blade as the fermior. Moxon copies the latter under the name of 'Formers', and states they are used with the mallet. The ciseau de lumiere he calls the 'Paring Chissell', which 'has a very fine edge and is used without a mallet, the blade being held with the fingers and pressing the shoulder against the handle'. In accounting for the term 'Former' Moxon introduces a typical piece of folk-etymology. He says: 'they are so called because they are used before Paring Chissels, as in the Fore Plaine'. It may be, however, that the original French word fermior has something to do with the ferme or roof truss."