What is this screwdriver shaped tool?

[Leviton]

I got this with some other old tools. It was blackish and had some rust, but overnight in used Evaporust got it quite shiny.

In the mad rush of the first second opening of a tool related garage sale I thought it was a screwdriver. However, the tip is not screwdriver-like, it is thick and more the shape of an extremely dull chisel. The tool is also bent as if someone had pried with it.

I could not find any names, numbers or logos on it.

Any ideas?

 

[TitusLloydPullo]

I have the same exact tool. Bought at a flea market for $5. I have no clue what its for. Been used to scrape out grout between tiles.

 

[1982fxr]

Prison shank.

The handle is the plunger/stop out of a bathroom sink. Chisel end probably stolen from a contractor.

 

[3baygarage]

It’s a screwdriver.

Check out the link and scroll down a bit, you’ll see something like that..

http://alloy-artifacts.org/vlchek-story.html

 

[r_olson_06]

Buffum maybe?

Looking for the following Plomb Pebbles Wrench 3061

 

[Oldtuleguy]

Seems like I have seen some herbrand metal screwdrivers.

 

[Oldtuleguy]

Here is a herbrand one on ebay

 

[Oldtuleguy]

Oops here is pic

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Leviton,
It is an extra heavy duty machinists' screwdriver. I have a Fairmount, BHM, and a few others. The fins are for strength and turning leverage. You will also see them in the so-called "perfect handle" style with a hex shoulder for turning. I'm on vacation and on my phone or I would post GJ links to examples and catalog excerpts I have previously posted. If you use the search tool and search on those terms more examples will come up.

 

[3baygarage]

It is a chisel. I have a set made by Crescent.

They certainly do look like the old time Crescent chisels.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Back in the day when screwdrivers were forged or had a through shank and it was not only "okay" to hit them with a mallet or hammer, but intended!

 

[Oldtuleguy]

That does look heavy duty

 

[d42jeep]

Here is one I spotted at a friend’s shop in 2017. I have no idea what brand it was but it was an early extra heavy duty screwdriver.
-Don

 

[Jazz1]

Looks like my Fairmount screwdriver

 

[leg17]

The "Perfect Handle" style with the hex feature were not H.D. Smith, the true Perfect Handle. They may have been made by Pexto.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Hence why I always refer to them as "so-called or "colloquially," leg. They were made by several mfgrs, including IRWIN, Federal and others.

 

[leg17]

Hence why I always refer to them as "so-called or "colloquially," leg. They were made by several mfgrs, including IRWIN, Federal and others.

 

[d42jeep]

Hence why I always refer to them as "so-called or "colloquially," leg. They were made by several mfgrs, including IRWIN, Federal and others.

Like these.
-Don

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Yes. I'm in vacation suffering from posting withdrawals, haha, so I can't show mine. But as I said, they've come up fairly often before. While H.D. Smith may not have made them, I think J.J. Ryan, who took over Smith, may have. I believe they evolved from the all-steel models. They look that way to me, anyway.

 

[Leviton]

Hey everybody, thanks for all the great information. And yes, this is a very substantial tool - it's heavy.

With the semi-pointed edge I'm thinking someone ground the tip to be a sharpened prying tool or rough chisel.

I sure enjoy finds like this where I can learn a lot and hold a piece with history. Imagine all the hands that have held it over the years and all the things it has worked on. A lot of enjoyment for 50 cents.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Here is a Billings & Spencer with some unfortunate box rot stains. Also a catalog excerpt (See Pic 7). A big part of the B&S business model was third party forgings and they may have made a lot of these for others.

 

[Leviton]

Thank you Lugz. The **** and handle in your photos look practically identical to mine. Must have come from the same place.

Do you have any idea of the timeline when these were manufactured?

 

[30-30remchester]

I have several of these by B&S. I call them my pry-drivers. Everyone has used a good screwdriver to pry something way to big to be pried off with a screwdriver. Just today I used a hammer on a Snap-On screwdriver. These tool I use for just that purpose. To beat on and pry with rather than my good screwdrivers, usually.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Everyone has used a good screwdriver to pry something way to big to be pried off with a screwdriver. Just today I used a hammer on a Snap-On screwdriver. These tool I use for just that purpose. To beat on and pry with rather than my good screwdrivers, usually.

Agreed. I have used them, as well as more modern screw drivers with a through-shank, to form a cleaner slot in a screw head with a swift tap, and every once in awhile a big old screw could use some knocking loose, too.

Do you have any idea of the timeline when these were manufactured?

I haven't done an exhaustive study, but they appear in catalogs as early as 1931 and as late as 1949.

 

[Leviton]

...
I haven't done an exhaustive study, but they appear in catalogs as early as 1931 and as late as 1949.

Thanks Lugz.