Thread: Awlful post

I'm no expert but it's too blunt at the end to work as an awl but the shape overall looks awl-ish.

Not an awl-right tool in my book ;-}

G'day RichardL,

Looks like the awl my Dad had. If you don't want it kick it over the tasman to me. A bit more beefy in the handle department, but not far off it.

The handle was the thing that got me awl confused. It has a metal head - I don't know if the metal goes awl through the handle but its is awlfully heavy. Well, fairly heavy, so I wondered if it was made to be struck. Very un-awl-like.

If it is supposed to be thinner, I could try awltering it by tapering the end using a grinder, depends whether it has been hardened far from the original tip I suppose. I'll have to test it with a file.

Looks like a scratch awl, maybe the tip was bent or broken at some point & someone sharpened it to the current tip shape.

I have something like that, around here someplace. The metal head suggests it functions as a punch. But, IIRC, the metal thing doesn't go all the way through; just an embedded disk about 7 or 8 mm thick. [Upon reflection, I think the shaft reaches all the way to the bottom of the disk.]

Googled ["crescent tool" jamestown 73] and got this leather punch:

https://www.usfreeads.com/188704-cls.html

(Unclear whether "73" actually got into the act, or was just dumb luck.)

Joe

Having just read pages 30, 31 and 311 of Graham Blackburn's "Traditional Woodworking Handtools", I feel I can be awlfully sure of my answer!

Looks like Fig. 40 - "Common Marking Awl" to me, and I quote:
"But far commoner is the marking awl, a much shorter tool often provided with a small metal cap at the end of the handle. The cap allows the tool to be hit with a hammer without damaging the handle. Unfortunately, not only is the blade often too short, but it is also considerably stouter than that of a scratch awl and is rarely sold with anything more than the mildest of sharp points."

So, I reckon it isn't any of the others: belt awl, bradawl, carpet awl, magazine awl, marking awl, peg awl, scratch awl, stabbing awl or an upholsterers awl.

Awl sorted now?

Hi Y'awl

thanks for awl the replies .

Joe, you are a better Googler than I. I couldn't find anything - perhaps coz safe search was on and these are considered awlfully dangerous (or maybe it is something to do with leather!?).

Anyroadup, it looks exactly the same as the so-called leather punch - not for wood at awl ?

On the other hand, arose62's definition awlso sounds on the button, so maybe the thing is a common marking awl that someone just used for leather along the way and it is really for wood after awl .

Graham Blackburn's book seems to indicate that it isn't awl that useful so maybe it should go back where it came from. If I leave it long enough, maybe it will grow into a scratch awl?

I think I'd go with arose62's reply. The link I cited was an item for sale, and the seller might have furnished his own title. Could really only settle it by access to a Crescent Tools catalog from the 1950s.

Sorry I can't think of another awlful pun.

Joe

G'day Richard. I can't tell from your photos but the knurling on the ferrule makes me suspect it unscrews to allow tips to be changed like the smaller versions used in leatherwork.
Break out the multigrips!

Barry Hicks

Originally Posted by joe greiner

I think I'd go with arose62's reply. The link I cited was an item for sale, and the seller might have furnished his own title. Could really only settle it by access to a Crescent Tools catalog from the 1950s.

Sorry I can't think of another awlful pun.

Joe

Thanks

I'm awl out of puns too...

As Forest Gump once said "Thats awl I have to say about that"

Yes, that is probably awl that should be said on the subject! But just to answer Barry, I tried undoing the thing as you suggested but it won't budge...at awl. Just managed to mark the knurling.

In the inevitable, immortal words of Porky Pig (it had to come didn't it), Thats awl folks .