Vanadium Tool Co. #309 mason's pointing tool

[davethorik]

Found this at a yard sale, it was cheap and I don't see Vanadium stuff very often in the wild. But i wasn't exactly sure what it was, lol.

Turns out it is a tuck pointing tool. (I call them strikers and I've only ever seen the stamped variety) I've never seen one like this, maybe I'm just showing my ignorance, my age, or both

It is heavy, formed from 5/8" octagonal bar and it is 10" long. Ends are 5/8" and 3/8. Here is a page from the 1962 Vanadium cat showing it.

 

[Farmer J.]

So that's the proper tool for finishing off mortar joints. A bricklayer I used to know kept hunting around the farm for an old rusted out galvanised bucket, then he would rip the handle from it, break it in half, and use it to go along the mortar as it began to set.