✅ SOLVED Antique Saw?

[alpha81]

Can anyone identify this unique looking item I happened to discover hidden deep within my old Victorian cellar. Looking for rarity and overall worth.
Thanks for your time!
Adam

 

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[ohiowhiteguy]

it's a draw knife..pretty nice one at that...there should be some kind of markings on it some where...how long is it?
OWG...

 

[alpha81]

I'ts in the other room but I'm guessing 16-18. What would you appraise it for based on the photos?
Thanks!!

 

[alpha81]

Oh, and the wooden arms are in GREAT shape, unlike the blade

 

[clovis97]

Yes, it is a draw knife. Too bad that the blade is damaged.

 

[releventchair]

Its damaged, around midwest fifteen bucks maybe. Have found a usable oldie for that but a collector could value a particular brand and be willing to pay more. That ol tool seen a lot of use.

 

[NOLA_Ken]

It's a neat find, but sadly not worth much in that condition with the big chunk out of the blade. It could be sharpened and repaired if someone wanted to use it but they are a pretty common tool and you could actually buy a newly made one these days. They are popular with traditional wood workers, and I'm sure someone would buy it either to hang on their shop wall, or to actually repair and use. If it were me though, I wouldn't pay over 15 or 20$ for it.

 

[alpha81]

oh yeah she has. major aggression issues I'd say...
Maybe I could clean the blade, but I think I'd much rather hang it on my wall because this baby has character!

 

[unfound]

Love the character of the piece. I have a collection of three on the wall...all different, but all draw knives. I've seen them go at auctions here in western PA for as high as $40.00. I personally don't pay more than 4 or 5 bucks. A lot of folks around here still use them on a regular basis.

 

[1shotwade]

That's a common item around here. You can pretty much buy all you want for $15-20 range.Many people I know along with myself prefer them to a fleshing knife and use them extensively for fleshing hides,especially since the population increase of beaver. Any old farm auction around here is likely to have one and sometimes you can get them for a song.

Wade

 

[gazmuth]

Looks like someone tried to sharpen it on a electric driven stone! And they did a terrible job at sharpening it! Nice find though, but here in Oklahoma they are very common at auctions too, go for a few bucks, I have several (although I sharpen mine by hand) but it may well have a little more value to someone else.

 

[River Rat]

Just went & looked at my draw knife hanging on the with other antique tools...mine has home made wooden handles. Still sharp like a razor!

 

[stefen]

I have several in my wood shop and keep them (and all chisels and plane blades) with polished mirror cutting edges...kinda anal and only need a slight honing to get an edge

There are similar draw knives that are looped (C) shaped that are used to make the scooped sitting surfaces of chair seats...

As always, the price depends on condition...condition...condition...

Useful tool but, as stated by others, inexpensive...

There is enough meat left on the blade to be reground, honed and polished...lot of work when they are that rough...but worth the effort...

If not interested in salvaging for use, (machine) oil lightly and use as a wall hanger...

 

[stefen]

I have several in my wood shop and keep them (and all chisels and plane blades) with polished mirror cutting edges...kinda anal and only need a slight honing to get an razor edge

There are similar draw knives that are looped (C) shaped that are used to make the scooped sitting surfaces of chair seats...

As always, the price depends on condition...condition...condition...

Useful tool but, as stated by others, inexpensive...

There is enough meat left on the blade to be reground, honed and polished...lot of work when they are that rough...but worth the effort...

If not interested in salvaging for use, (machine) oil lightly and use as a wall hanger...

RESEARCH: Drawing Knife is included in a group of Viking Shipwright's Tools c. A.D. 100 in the State Historical Museum in Stockholm. Tools of this type were widely used in medieval Russia for smoothing a surface after using the Axe or Adze, but no examples have been noted in medieval illustrations in the West. Source: R. A. Salaman. Dictionary of Woodworking Tools. Newtown, Ct: Taunton, 1989, page 175.

 

[alpha81]

Thank you all for the input.
Most likely I'll throw her on the wall because she's clearly got some character.
Thanks guys,
Adam