Antique Tools - Edge Channelers; Anyone else use these?

[alfredleatherworks]

One of the things I enjoy is finding old tools and techniques and bringing them back for use in my shop. My most recent acquisition has been an 1868 patent pattern Gomph edge channeler (no idea how to determine actual date of manufacture) and an unbranded Gomph or C.S. Osborn-style straight channeler (also of indeterminate age). These are really cool looking tools, and useful for being able to hide your stitching under a flap the tool cuts. Once the stitching is done you glue the flap back over the thread and like magic, it looks “seamless”. I did a little restoration work on them both and I’m excited to get using them soon.

I’m curious though, does anyone else have channeling tools that they use in their shops?

[Samalan]

My son's doctor was asking him what he did for a living. When he asked what I did, my son said I do leather work. The doctor said, "Tell your dad to give me a call; I have some leather tools he might be interested in." So I did. We met the next day in the parking lot where the doctor worked. He said the tools are in the trunk of my car. When he opened the trunk, there were two boxes. One of the boxes was a small old trunk, you know the kind with the wood straps, with leather campaign handles, and the top slightly rounded, really cool looking. The other box was a wooden box covered in sheet metal with a thousand rivets around the edges and a beautiful decorative design. When the doc opened the boxes, I could not believe the leather tools, Head knifes, a Gomph pattern maker's head knife, those Gomph edge slicers like you have there. All kinds of edge creasers and a pipe tobacco tin box filled with homemade stamps, all made very nicely. Also, there were letters in envelopes with dates stamped on them, 1891 - 1889. When I asked how much, he said, "Just take them." I held up one of the tools and said, "This one tool is a hundred bucks." Are you sure you want to? Just take them, he said. I said maybe you would like a nice belt or something. He said, "No, I just want you to have them." Sorry about the long answer, but yes, I do have those. I agree with you, it's so much fun using old tools. I'm a cabinetmaker by trade and have a lifetime collection of antique tools. Have fun with those old tools.

Edited 20 hours ago by Northmount
Removed duplicated text

[MarshalWill]

On 2/19/2026 at 1:59 PM, alfredleatherworks said:

One of the things I enjoy is finding old tools and techniques and bringing them back for use in my shop. My most recent acquisition has been an 1868 patent pattern Gomph edge channeler (no idea how to determine actual date of manufacture) and an unbranded Gomph or C.S. Osborn-style straight channeler (also of indeterminate age). These are really cool looking tools, and useful for being able to hide your stitching under a flap the tool cuts. Once the stitching is done you glue the flap back over the thread and like magic, it looks “seamless”. I did a little restoration work on them both and I’m excited to get using them soon.

I’m curious though, does anyone else have channeling tools that they use in their shops?

Those are really interesting. Nice find. No, I don't have any channeling tools. That said, there's nothing like old well-made hand tools. My grandfather was a contractor who worked on the Winchester House from about 1900-1920. I have his tool chest and many of his hand tools. Some are leather tools and others are woodworking tools. I love to use them. Good, old tools just work right.

Samalan, those boxes of old tools sound amazing. What a treasure. Even the boxes.

Edited 3 hours ago by MarshalWill