What are these ? Conflicting answers !

[RedVise]

Let see what you guys have to say. I asked on a vintage tool forum whether these tools are cabbage/food choppers/knives or a leather working tool.
Receive answers stating both.
So, anyone here have links or references to info either way ?
Same tool used for multiple jobs ?

Interested in your replies, Thanks !

Merry Christmas to you guys, and gals ! Since I retired I dont spend as much time here but still enjoy the heck out of these different forums.

 

[Motown]

I think they are for scrapping flesh off the back side of leather hides.

 

[dbstillings]

My mom used them for chopping slaw and vegetables... probably 45 years ago but we still have one in our kitchen.
Merry Christmas to all.

 

[Treeman]

Google "antique dough cutting tool" - images




This link shows them to be used as vegetables/herbs chopper also: https://www.tooltique.co.uk/shop/vintage-sheffield-made-herb-chopper-or-dough-cutting-tool/

This link also labels them as "food choppers": https://picclick.com/Antique-Dual-Blade-Wood-Handle-Chopper-Dough-Cutter-133370983740.html

 

[rlitman]

... whether these tools are cabbage/food choppers/knives or a leather working tool...

Positively food cutting knives called a mezzaluna. Leather working knives (that go by the same name, hence the likely confusion) have their handles set at right angles to the way those are made, and are smaller. They're used differently.

For food, the knife is rocked in a wooden bowl, or sometimes just on a cutting board, so the handle will either go across, or there'll be two handles a the ends:





For leather, the knife is used more in free air against the leather, so there will be a single central handle mounted upright:

 

[RedVise]

Rlitman, you dont sound like you have made up your mind.... LOL !!!

Thanks for bringing the data .

 

[2oolhound]

At 1st glance I thought fleshing hides but after looking closely at your photos and seeing the stereo models I'd say they have to be vegetable choppers.

rlitman's description of the handles is right on too.

When fleshing hides you're dragging the edge sideways to scrape off bits of flesh that was left on the hide after skinning. The round edges at the ends of the blade are so you don't accidentally dig a corner of the blade into the flesh and cut into the hide. Either no handle or one like rlitman's single handle on his last photo would work. Those horizontal handles in your photos wouldn't be good for fleshing hides because it would be hard to keep the angle you're using.

When cutting veggies you're pushing straight down and rocking to cut through so those horizontal handles would be good.

 

[RTM]

I agree with rlitman also. His one leather cutter had a much more stout connection from the handle to the blade than the veggie choppers.

All of the Osborne leather cutters look this way.

Osborne Tools : Catalog No. 71 : C. S. Osborne & Co. : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming : Internet Archive

72 p., illus., 27.9 cm, trade catalog

archive.org

 

[lilredex]

As a kid, my family and others in the area operated small mink farms. Come pelting time, First Nations ladies travelled around these farms in groups cleaning up the pelts. They used WW draw knifes like these: https://oldetradetools.com/product/9-drawknife/ They were extremely diligent and accurate. The pelts were stretched inside out over boards resembling ironing boards and scraped clean. The fat was sent out and processed into laundry soap.

My vote goes to a food chopper.

 

[GreenIron]

They are cutting utensils of some sore.
I'm sure they were made for a certain application, but what, I don't know.

 

[MikeC55]

I suspect they are Ulus. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ulu

 

[isb cornbinder]

In Alaska those knives are known as ULU. I have one and it works really well as a food chopper.

Amazon.ca : ulu knife inuit

 

[Ton ton]

Let see what you guys have to say. I asked on a vintage tool forum whether these tools are cabbage/food choppers/knives or a leather working tool.
Receive answers stating both.
So, anyone here have links or references to info either way ?
Same tool used for multiple jobs ?

Interested in your replies, Thanks !

Merry Christmas to you guys, and gals ! Since I retired I dont spend as much time here but still enjoy the heck out of these different forums.

Merry Christmas to you too.