Members SUP Posted Monday at 05:30 PM Members Report Posted Monday at 05:30 PM I got this at an estate sale on the last of 4 days. No one seemed to know what it is. Several people said it is a leather worker's tool but no one knew what it does. I do not even know whether they are right or just guessing. It is heavy - 1 1/2 kgs. The punch section is 2 ½ inches by 4 ½ inches. Height of the punch section is ¾ inch at the narrow ends and 1 ¼ inch at the widest. Total height is about 4 ½ inches. The pinking section, for want of a better name, has each division about 1 1/4 inch long and about 1/2 inch wide. The sections are sharp, so evidently to be used as a punch. If anyone knows that this is I would love to know too. Quote
Members Zonker1972 Posted Monday at 05:38 PM Members Report Posted Monday at 05:38 PM it looks like it a punch that would cut short fringe on a piece of leather. Quote
Members SUP Posted Monday at 05:42 PM Author Members Report Posted Monday at 05:42 PM Yes, That is very probable! but when would such a heavy punch be needed? Do you know? Quote
Members SUP Posted Monday at 05:56 PM Author Members Report Posted Monday at 05:56 PM (edited) Looking at it again, it struck me. There is a cutting edge across from the fringe cutting section. i think, maybe, this is used to cut streamers fringed on one side... of leather? May be of use in ren faires for people setting up stalls! They cannot have anything modern apparently, so if they want streamers with writing, this is what they would use, I guess. If I ever decide to sell anything at a ren faire, I have this to decorate the stall! Edited Monday at 05:56 PM by SUP Quote
Moderator bruce johnson Posted Monday at 06:45 PM Moderator Report Posted Monday at 06:45 PM It is for cutting “kilties” on shoes. They go under the laces and extend over the arch and top of the foot. Quote
Members SUP Posted Monday at 06:58 PM Author Members Report Posted Monday at 06:58 PM Ah! Thank you, @bruce johnson. I seem to be ending up with plenty of cordwainer's tools. Maybe I should start thinking of making shoes other than simple moccasins. . I will find other uses for it too though, like the other tools that I have. Half the time, 'not knowing' is the best teacher! Quote
Members BlackDragon Posted Monday at 07:03 PM Members Report Posted Monday at 07:03 PM 13 minutes ago, bruce johnson said: It is for cutting “kilties” on shoes. They go under the laces and extend over the arch and top of the foot. That's what I thought when I first saw it but I didn't know the name. 3 minutes ago, SUP said: Ah! Thank you, @bruce johnson. I seem to be ending up with plenty of cordwainer's tools. Maybe I should start thinking of making shoes other than simple moccasins. . I will find other uses for it too though, like the other tools that I have. Half the time, 'not knowing' is the best teacher! You could always make these for kids shoes or swing dancers. Quote
Members SUP Posted Monday at 07:59 PM Author Members Report Posted Monday at 07:59 PM @BlackDragon Thank you for those photographs. It shows clearly how the tool is used. Yes, maybe I should start with children's shoes, on which I can put 'kilties'. Why that name, I wonder. @bruce johnson do you know? I wonder how this tool came to be in a house which had no other leatherworking tools or items. Hmm. Quote
Contributing Member fredk Posted Monday at 09:26 PM Contributing Member Report Posted Monday at 09:26 PM The Roman soldier's groin protector was the original 'kilt'. It looked like these, but of course much larger Quote
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.