[unbob]

My Witherby with adjustable handles, I consider it a precision tool, with a lot of uses.

 

[Grumpy]

I might have to get one. A very useful tool.

 

[33706]

For what it's worth, Wayne:

the short one is a "Bushman Professional." a name known to a few LJs.

One is stamped 'xxGault', possibly Legalt, difficult to read, even harder to get a good photo.

The other has a logo stamped on, in a 5/8" circle, a hand holding a hammer and "xxxxx Tools".

I usually pass over drawknives, they're either in tough condition, badly sharpened, or crazy expensive. These

three each set me back $10 each or less, and can be quickly whipped up to user status as required.

 

[Tim457]

Nothing special in mine but they are quite fun to use. I shaped a new handle for my slick and it was nice to use.

First is a Fulton and it's the one I use the most because I had it first and cleaned it up the best.

Second is a very well used folding drawknife that's pretty sharp but has a wavy bevel and the maker mark is very faint but looks like Wilkinson&Co and it might be AJ Wilkinson & Co that there are a lot of google results for the July 16, 1895 patent date is has on it.

Next is one with a funny name like Bumblebee or something on it. Solid handles and will make a good user.

Last is one with handles that need replacing. They are loose and dry rotted a bit.

 

[leatherstocking]

Maybe more of a scraper? Ever tried to use it?

 

[CFrye]

A recent acquisition. I believe it's a cooper's draw knife? I haven't found a maker's mark yet.

Anyone got more info?

 

[upchuck]

Candy-
In the linked YouTube video at 2:35 or so the Irish cooper holds up a tool similar to yours. He briefly shows how it is used and calls it a "crum" knife. I've spent a predawn hour or so watching barrel making videos. This trade used several typical and singular draw knife like tools in the making of barrels.

I'm thinking that the different directions the handles point on cooper's tools was for access to the inside of a barrel where the restricted space would require one handle to be inline with the blade. Yours is a cool tool.
chuck

 

[CFrye]

Thanks Chuck, that's what I'd read. I've been searching the video's as well without a sighting of this particular tool. It is really heavy. I found a pic of one that looks almost identical to it labeled as a Cooper's Jigger Knife or Chamfer Draw Knife here.
Lots of other hand tools used in this barrel making video I thought was pretty interesting.

 

[upchuck]

Candy-
I put "crum" knife in quotation marks because the cooper had an Irish accent and I was pre-coffee. It doesn't surprise me that even after few hearings I may have missed the exact right name. It also makes sense that old tools had a few different names. Your linked video was one of the ones I watched yesterday. It was the best of the ones I saw. I didn't include it in the response to your questions because I didn't see your knife in that video.
chuck

 

[racerglen]

Top, a homebuilt unit, no ideas beyond that, below is a "__BBBARD HWWCC, Middletowm Conn" knife.

 

[DLK]

A recent acquisition. I believe it s a cooper s draw knife? I haven t found a maker s mark yet.

Anyone got more info?

- CFrye

I saw several of these in the Antique Malls I visited on my recent trip. The were labeled as draw knives.

 

[upchuck]

I have seven draw knives and the scorp I pictured earlier. But there is one I just can't find I have no idea where it might be hidden. Here are the two that are ready to go to work. These are the range of sizes I have. The top one is 10" of blade and the bottom one is 6".

The top one is Winstead Edge Tool Works which I think has some relationship to Whitherby but the current state of my brain can't recall just what. The lower one is a Greenlee.

As I was looking at my knives since this topic got started I noticed that all of my knives have an almost totally straight back across the top of the blade as can be seen in the top photo. Also the blades have almost no curve across their length. This last photo shows the straightness across their length.

I'd like to try out some of the other variations with more curved forms. Hell I just like draw knives and I'd like to try them all. Maybe except those with folding/adjustable handles. Although the one unbob pictured in post #20 has some appeal. That one seems to adjust the angle of cut/attack rather than adjust the handles to protect the blade/user from each other.

 

[john2005]

I have a couple, but this is my favoite

You just pull that little lever that looks like a screw and they open to two different positions or close.

 

[Tugboater78]

I have found quite a few in the wild here and there, but all in rough shape and priced no less than $40 a piece, so i reckon they will all end up as wall ornaments.

 

[DTOLAR]

A lot of these look like fleshing knives to me, especially that little short straight one Hairy posted. They're used to clean up animal hides before you tan them

 

[DLK]

A lot of these look like fleshing knives to me, especially that little short straight one Hairy posted. They re used to clean up animal hides before you tan them

- DTOLAR

How does one tell the difference?

 

[upchuck]

I was stumbling around on the internet this morning and found this again:
http://www.snowcrest.net/kitty/sgrandstaff/drawknive.htm
Some may find it interesting.
Also by the same author is this link about the serious rehabilitation of a draw knife:
http://www.wkfinetools.com/contrib/pScott/drawKnife/drawKnife-01.asp
Good morning
chuck

 

[Tim457]

Very cool links Chuck. One thing I found interesting was in the first one he gives a quick way to make the domed washers by cutting a ring off a pipe to place the disc over and peening the center in, and the second link he gives a more serious method. Great info, thanks.

 

[upchuck]

Tim-
I have a couple of draw knives that are all ready to have replacement handles fixed to the blades except for the domed washers. I've not been happy with my attempts at making these washers. One is a $1.00 7" P.S. & W. that was horribly abused. I used rasps and files to make the maple handles. I used a couple of pieces of .50 caliber ammo brass for the upper handle/blade connection. I like the way that that worked out. But cutting the brass sheet into circles, doming it then drilling the holes has eluded me so far. I've thought about starting with engine freeze plugs but I haven't found any that are suitable yet.
The other one I've taken my first attempt with a lathe (beech) and selected the best two of 5 or 6 handles and used copper pipe caps to fit the handle/blade connection but again the copper sheet to domed washers has resulted in a misused tool in need of repair and no successful washers. I'll figure it out eventually.
chuck

 

[Tim457]

I have at least one draw knife that needs new handles and is missing one of the domes. I went to the local metal surplus place and they didn't have any brass sheet so I'll have to check back. I don't know what kind of hole saw would cut brass, but I don't have a drill press anyway. To making the circle I'd need to hacksaw a square then cut the corners off and then file it round.

Which method did you try to make the dome for them? I'm guessing you don't have a dome punch. A ball peen hammer head of the right size could work for that but you'd still need something for the other side. I'll try peening first before going crazy.