Antique Wood Shaves

[patack2]

Hello,
I have three different antique wood shaves and I'd like to figure out what they were/are used for.
each is about 12" long.
I am posting a photo of all 3 with numbers for reference.
I'll also post a photo or two of interesting parts of them. More photos available.
Thanks so much for your help.
P.S. I purchased them along with 3 antique specialty hammers (love these).

 

[steaks&anvils]

Hello,
I have three different antique wood shaves and I'd like to figure out what they were/are used for.
each is about 12" long.
I am posting a photo of all 3 with numbers for reference.
I'll also post a photo or two of interesting parts of them. More photos available.
Thanks so much for your help.
P.S. I purchased them along with 3 antique specialty hammers (love these).

I can't help you with the wood-shaves, but this is GJ and we want to see your hammers too! Can you please post pictures on the big hammer thread?

Hammer time!

catsteve suggested this be expanded for everyone to post their hammers, like some of the other "Show me your ____" threads, and that could also include refurb projects or custom made hammer as well. So post em if ya got em! In another thread, I had an offer from bigcaddy for a "big" ball...

www.garagejournal.com

Thanks!

 

[WisJim]

These look like owner made scrapers for cabinet work, maybe gunstocks, etc. 526 might be a spokeshave but the blade looks more like a scraper, can't really tell from the pictures.

 

[patack2]

I'll be happy to post photos of the hammers as soon as I get photos of them. I'll be interested in your opinions of them.
As for the scrapers... I never thought of gunstocks. I did think of wagon wheels.
#56... did they make spokeshaves that large?
#56... I can't quite figure out what that piece is on top... bone or perhaps and early plastic?
#525 Anyone have a clue what those cutouts might be used for? That's a head-scratcher for me.
Thanks.

 

[pfaustus]

My WAG is that #525 has a blade cut from an old saw and we are looking at the back of the blade, not the working edge.

 

[Provincial]

#525 may be for roughing out a shape. The serrated edge would get more "bite" and the shavings would not be full width. It would leave a rough finish with ridges and grooves, but might remove material faster.

The plastic/bone part may be a guide to control depth of cut. It would be more resistant to wear that the wood of the handle.

 

[RTM]

My WAG is that #525 has a blade cut from an old saw and we are looking at the back of the blade, not the working edge.

Maybe, maybe not

#525 may be for roughing out a shape. The serrated edge would get more "bite" and the shavings would not be full width. It would leave a rough finish with ridges and grooves, but might remove material faster.

The plastic/bone part may be a guide to control depth of cut. It would be more resistant to wear that the wood of the handle.

Looking at the wooden body, it seems to have a curve to the side not pictured. A picture there would be more useful.

It possible to be a roughing cutter as well. I've also seen toothing planes, normally used to roughen surfaces for veneer, also recommended as a roughing tool for removing stock without tearout on wild grain surfaces.

These look like owner made scrapers for cabinet work, maybe gunstocks, etc.

This I am in complete agreement with. All three look like scrapers. IF flat bottomed, they could be used for cabinets, but the home made kind, especially with curved faces, are almost always listed as gunstock scrapers, even if they were never used for that. They can scrape any curved surface quite nicely.

All of these would be used with the metal edge barely protruding from the wood, else you would get horrible chatter when you tried to use it. The short blade, would ride quite nicely.

A few more "complete" pictures of all faces may help, but I think scrapers is the right answer.

 

[patack2]

My WAG is that #525 has a blade cut from an old saw and we are looking at the back of the blade, not the working edge.

Wow. The thought never even crossed my mind. I know that older generations used everything in case of further use, but I can't think that could be safe. The other side of the blade has a large curve and could have been used for wagon wheels. I love this stuff and wish someone kept notes. It could have been dual working edges. Hmm.

 

[patack2]

Maybe, maybe not

Looking at the wooden body, it seems to have a curve to the side not pictured. A picture there would be more useful.

It possible to be a roughing cutter as well. I've also seen toothing planes, normally used to roughen surfaces for veneer, also recommended as a roughing tool for removing stock without tearout on wild grain surfaces.


This I am in complete agreement with. All three look like scrapers. IF flat bottomed, they could be used for cabinets, but the home made kind, especially with curved faces, are almost always listed as gunstock scrapers, even if they were never used for that. They can scrape any curved surface quite nicely.

All of these would be used with the metal edge barely protruding from the wood, else you would get horrible chatter when you tried to use it. The short blade, would ride quite nicely.

A few more "complete" pictures of all faces may help, but I think scrapers is the right answer.

Well, I should have mentioned the fact that this was the estate of a gunsmith, contractor, and collector. This man had literally thousands of tools, the smaller amount being part of the antique collectibles. Part II and Part III will have more tools and finishes.
So, we are in agreement that these are all scrapers? I'm going to attempt a few more photos. Thank you.

 

[patack2]

Toothing planes... something new in my vocabulary.

 

[RTM]

Yup, I’d call them all scrapers, with the blades properly prepped, and set close the the cutting face, the will do a wonderful job of removing wood, lightly. These are not tools for hogging of wood but rather to fair a curve, match surfaces, get a great finish on figured wood,

 

[RTM]

Toothing planes... something new in my vocabulary.

Yup, a sort of forgotten tool. Most vintage ones are wooden, with the blade set close to vertical, and a coarse and fine toothing blade being offered, two different TPI.

One of mine is similar to this

Applewood Toothing Plane by OHIO TOOL CO circa 1851-1913 Columbus, Ohio - 92974

2" iron.

www.jimbodetools.com

Now, you can get a toothing blade for a low angle plane, which I’ve not tried yet.

https://www.leevalley.com/en-us/shop/tools/hand-tools/planes/blades/72096-toothed-blades-for-bevel-up-planes?item=05P2506

 

[patack2]

Yup, a sort of forgotten tool. Most vintage ones are wooden, with the blade set close to vertical, and a coarse and fine toothing blade being offered, two different TPI.

One of mine is similar to this

Applewood Toothing Plane by OHIO TOOL CO circa 1851-1913 Columbus, Ohio - 92974

2" iron.

www.jimbodetools.com

Now, you can get a toothing blade for a low angle plane, which I’ve not tried yet.

https://www.leevalley.com/en-us/shop/tools/hand-tools/planes/blades/72096-toothed-blades-for-bevel-up-planes?item=05P2506

Great information. So, is what I have a toothing shave? Thanks so much for your help.

 

[patack2]

Would someone post a link to the antique hammer thread, please? When the weather breaks and I have some light, I'll get those photos. Thanks.

 

[RTM]

See above in post #2 from steak&anvils

 

[pfaustus]

Looking at picture #33, I like my WAG more than ever. https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/attachments/shaver-525-33-jpg.1481550/

 

[patack2]

Looking at picture #33, I like my WAG more than ever. https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/attachments/shaver-525-33-jpg.1481550/

Sorry to sound ignorant, but what is a WAG? And, I believe you are talking about the saw blade?

 

[steaks&anvils]

Sorry to sound ignorant, but what is a WAG? And, I believe you are talking about the saw blade?

WAG = wild *** guess

 

[patack2]

WAG = wild *** guess

lol Love it!

 

[Modern Garage]

...as opposed to a SWAG - Scientific Wild *** Guess.
I'm a trained professional so I only deal in SWAG's.
Joe

 

[four.cycle]

Patack2 -
Those are exceptionally nice specimens which obviously were well used by the previous owner.
I would call them "cabinet scrapers". I don't know much about guns, but I would imagine they'd work fine for that as well.
The one with the serrated blade is a bit of a mystery - I can't even speculate on what it might have been used for.

There are a lot of websites devoted to vintage and antique tools, many of which are really dialed in on one genre - e.g. bit braces. I'm not even sure where to point, other than the list of URLs at the bottom end of my "list" which can be found HERE: https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=478206 (you'll need to scroll all the way down to the bottom of the list, where you will find a list of URLs.)

Look forward to seeing the hammers.

 

[RTM]

I would call them "cabinet scrapers".

That made me think a bit, as I always think of the Stanley 80 & 81 as cabinet scrapers, but in this 1914 catalog, only the 85 & 87 are called cabinet scrapers.

Stanley Tools Catalogue No. 34 : 1914 : Stanley Rule & Level Co. : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming : Internet Archive

149 p., illus., 18.7 cm, trade catalog

archive.org

even the 112 is listed as a veneer scraper.

But interesting, Blood & Gore shows a #80 box saying Cabinet Scraper. Wonder when the name changed?

The Superior Works: Stanley Blood and Gore Planes #71 - #87

www.supertool.com

 

[SARG]

Commonly called wheel spoke shaves.

 

[four.cycle]

You got me. I've never owned one - I always just used a piece of glass, but that was always for flat surfaces, not curvy stuff.

 

[patack2]

...as opposed to a SWAG - Scientific Wild *** Guess.
I'm a trained professional so I only deal in SWAG's.
Joe

Joe, sorry that I missed this. I guess I could call you a PhD WAGer. Neat.

 

[patack2]

Patack2 -
Those are exceptionally nice specimens which obviously were well used by the previous owner.
I would call them "cabinet scrapers". I don't know much about guns, but I would imagine they'd work fine for that as well.
The one with the serrated blade is a bit of a mystery - I can't even speculate on what it might have been used for.

There are a lot of websites devoted to vintage and antique tools, many of which are really dialed in on one genre - e.g. bit braces. I'm not even sure where to point, other than the list of URLs at the bottom end of my "list" which can be found HERE: https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=478206 (you'll need to scroll all the way down to the bottom of the list, where you will find a list of URLs.)

Look forward to seeing the hammers.

That is an amazing list!!!! Thank you so much for sharing it. What a great reference.
Yes, these pieces were well used, but I wonder how much the previous owner used them because he had every conceivable tool on earth that would have been more convenient. I am a novice and lover of all things old, but much to my many brothers' amusement, I seek out old tools for woodworking probably because it brings back great memories of my Dad. Thanks again for your input.

 

[patack2]

That made me think a bit, as I always think of the Stanley 80 & 81 as cabinet scrapers, but in this 1914 catalog, only the 85 & 87 are called cabinet scrapers.

Stanley Tools Catalogue No. 34 : 1914 : Stanley Rule & Level Co. : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming : Internet Archive

149 p., illus., 18.7 cm, trade catalog

archive.org

even the 112 is listed as a veneer scraper.

But interesting, Blood & Gore shows a #80 box saying Cabinet Scraper. Wonder when the name changed?

The Superior Works: Stanley Blood and Gore Planes #71 - #87

www.supertool.com

Another amazing reference. Thank you. If only I could retain all the information. I do think cabinet scraper is appropriate and perhaps more general-purpose? I was struck at how much #80 reminded me of a scraper that is sitting on my desk that is 10" cast iron from England. Unfortunately, it is missing the blade, but I picked it up because I had never seen one with two thumbscrews on the top.
btw. ... those cabinet scraper planes are really handsome. Thanks again for your great input.

 

[crguy]

Patack2 -

The one with the serrated blade is a bit of a mystery - I can't even speculate on what it might have been used for.

You do realize the "serrated" edge of that blade is the non working edge - correct?

 

[patack2]

You do realize the "serrated" edge of that blade is the non working edge - correct?

Mystery is exactly the word I would use, but then again, way way back when rocks were still soft, people were pretty ingenious.
I don't know if it was in here or something I read; however, that serrated edge could/would/might have been used to prep a surface for a veneer adhesive. What do I know? Not much. Only a guess.

 

[crguy]

Mystery is exactly the word I would use, but then again, way way back when rocks were still soft, people were pretty ingenious.
I don't know if it was in here or something I read; however, that serrated edge could/would/might have been used to prep a surface for a veneer adhesive. What do I know? Not much. Only a guess.

Look up toothing planes & blades.

 

[RTM]

I was struck at how much #80 reminded me of a scraper that is sitting on my desk that is 10" cast iron from England. Unfortunately, it is missing the blade, but I picked it up because I had never seen one with two thumbscrews on the top.

Probably a #151

Stanley Tools : Catalogue No. 34 : August 1941 Edition : Stanley Tools Division : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming : Internet Archive

236 p., illus., 17.7 cm, trade catalog

archive.org

 

[patack2]

Probably a #151

Stanley Tools : Catalogue No. 34 : August 1941 Edition : Stanley Tools Division : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming : Internet Archive

236 p., illus., 17.7 cm, trade catalog

archive.org

Yes, it is a 151. Were they made by Stanley? Also, right at the hole (for hanging) is X30. Any idea what that is for? Are replacement blades still made for these? Thanks for that link. This team is such a great resource!

 

[RTM]

^^^^. Yes, you can get them from Hock, Lee Valley, Amazon, and eBay, as of today.

 

[patack2]

^^^^. Yes, you can get them from Hock, Lee Valley, Amazon, and eBay, as of today.

Thank you.

 

[pfaustus]

Mystery is exactly the word I would use, but then again, way way back when rocks were still soft, people were pretty ingenious.
I don't know if it was in here or something I read; however, that serrated edge could/would/might have been used to prep a surface for a veneer adhesive. What do I know? Not much. Only a guess.

I really don't think that is a toothing plane. Toothing plane blades are grooved in the back so sharpening the bevel makes a lot of very small points. I think my WAG above is correct. It is a handmade scraper version of this. https://www.leevalley.com/en-us/sho...35i3Yd7BS5LC5aPB3ZRXcYtdUyS3EqDQaAnodEALw_wcB

I couldn't remember what they were called, but a little googling says "chair devil" or chairmaker's devil" Here is a modern made version someone did a nice job on. https://ralstonfurniture.com/tools.html