To avoid these ads, REGISTER NOW!

Unusual Pick with rounded edge

patack2

Well-known member
Joined
Mar 30, 2020
Messages
79
Location
virginia
Hello,
Tool Question, please. Appears to be some type of pick, but I can't figure out what the other side (round) does and what it is used for. The round side is thin and tapers even thinner at the end. God help anyone that swings this as the wood shrunk and the handle comes off.
Help? Measures 10.5" x 8.5" wide. Thank you.
I am unable to post photos. Please advise and perhaps I can respond to enter them.

Thank you.
 
To avoid these ads, REGISTER NOW!
OP
P

patack2

Well-known member
Joined
Mar 30, 2020
Messages
79
Location
virginia
Thank you, Skiff. It is similar to what you posted, but what makes mine different is that when you lay if flat, you can see the curve of the pick and the flat rounded edge on the other side. Does that make sense? It's frustrating I can't add photos :)
 
OP
P

patack2

Well-known member
Joined
Mar 30, 2020
Messages
79
Location
virginia
Skiff, the depth of my pick is quite thin. The widest part is where the handle is inserted which is 5/8" and it lays perfectly flat.
 

Private Lugnutz

Well-known member
Joined
Mar 30, 2012
Messages
30,558
Location
The Authentic Jersey Shore
Sounds like you may be describing a mattock to me. A pick has two sharp prongs on either side of the eye. An adze has a flat sharpened blade on on side of an eye. A mattock has a pick on one side of the eye and an adze on the other side. (It's not a pickaxe, which has an axe blade in line with the handle.) Used for digging, prying, and chopping. Skiff is showing a photo of a primitive mattock. Search for mattock with your internet browser and you will find photos online. Some (maybe most) examples you see will be US Army mattocks from WWI and WWII. They were carried by Corps of Engineers soldiers in various unit kits and they were part of the on-board Pioneer Kits of trucks over 1 ton in WWII, along with an axe and a D-handled shovel, used to clear debris from the road, or to get the truck out of a jam if it was stuck.
 

Private Lugnutz

Well-known member
Joined
Mar 30, 2012
Messages
30,558
Location
The Authentic Jersey Shore
Here is a drawing of a mattock from my 1939 Federal Standard Stock Catalog. I am guessing by "rounded" you are referring to the way the pick and adze curve away from 90* perpendicular at the eye out toward the business end.
 

Attachments

  • Mattocks II F.jpg
    Mattocks II F.jpg
    119.5 KB · Views: 20

LostBoy(IRL)

Well-known member
Joined
Nov 4, 2016
Messages
213
Location
West of Ireland
I have a few picks of different styles, probably about five in total, all are old. Only two I have put handles on. One is the Matlock and it's my go to tool for digging work. Our ground gets quite hard here and oh so stoney.
They are great tools and last forever.
When I say old, the majority of these came from a government department that was shutting down 'the land commission' a relation worked for them and these were being dumped. He got dozens of them and other similar tools. The department dealt with the dividing of land in this country and itself was formed from the previous British government 'congested districts board' from 19th century. Some of the tool shed he was clearing hadn't been opened in 50 years.
Nice pieces of our counties history that are still breaking soil in my little piece of it
 
To avoid these ads, REGISTER NOW!

Private Lugnutz

Well-known member
Joined
Mar 30, 2012
Messages
30,558
Location
The Authentic Jersey Shore
The department dealt with the dividing of land in this country and itself was formed from the previous British government 'congested districts board' from 19th century. Some of the tool shed he was clearing hadn't been opened in 50 years. Nice pieces of our counties history that are still breaking soil in my little piece of it
Very cool. :thumbup:
 

LostBoy(IRL)

Well-known member
Joined
Nov 4, 2016
Messages
213
Location
West of Ireland
Sample pic, my other proper pick is with my brother currently. There is more than this, not much more, but this is what was handy to gather
IMG_20200331_121627859.jpg
You've got to love that drain Spade
 
OP
P

patack2

Well-known member
Joined
Mar 30, 2020
Messages
79
Location
virginia
Lost Boy.... what an awesome collection.
To all, I appreciate your patience with me. It's almost like one of those party games but clues have helped.

Private Lugnuzt... IF you took the top photo, my pick is on the right side; however, on the left side is what I could best describe as one of those old wood ice cream spoons with the round end facing me and going right into the center. Does that make more sense?
My brother tells me to stay away from tools, but I love these very old pieces and my curiosity gets the better of me.
Thanks again for all your help.
 

Private Lugnutz

Well-known member
Joined
Mar 30, 2012
Messages
30,558
Location
The Authentic Jersey Shore
IF you took the top photo, my pick is on the right side; however, on the left side is what I could best describe as one of those old wood ice cream spoons with the round end facing me and going right into the center.
It sounds like a mattock with an adze blade that has been dulled or just a different shape, like Skiff's in post #3. If the blade looks like it can be used for digging, prying, pulling or chopping, whether curving and rectangular, rounded, or, like you're describing even more rounded into a scoop shape, it's still a mattock if there's a pick on the other side of the eye. If you PM me, I will give you my email address, you can send me the photos, and I will post here in your thread.
 
To avoid these ads, REGISTER NOW!
Top Bottom