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 February 21 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 February 21 by MarshalWill

[Samalan]

7 hours ago, MarshalWill said:

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.

That's funny, you said even the boxes, because that's what everyone who sees them says they always say the tools are nice, but I love the boxes. LOL 

[alfredleatherworks]

On 2/20/2026 at 12:57 PM, Samalan said:

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.

That is amazing! I’ve been gifted a few things over the years (like the Landis #1 sewing machine I have), but what you were given outweighs anything I’ve been the recipient of! Including the Landis, lol. Those tools, and their respective boxes are unbelievably cool. 

10 hours ago, MarshalWill said:

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.

Thanks! Cool that you have your grandfather’s tool chest! I love the feel of the old vintage/antique tools, they have a weight to them and a feel in the hand that makes me enjoy picking them up and using them.

 

[chuck123wapati]

Those are so cool!! Yeah, old tools rock i would use them thats what they were made for. The feel of quality you just don't have nowadays. And the build styles of those old tools, they made them look good not just functional, solid brass, and lathe-turned wood instead of aluminum and plastic.  I have some old tools, I bought new lol.

[stampingdelight]

great find

[MarshalWill]

6 hours ago, chuck123wapati said:

I have some old tools, I bought new lol.

[alfredleatherworks]

15 hours ago, chuck123wapati said:

Those are so cool!! Yeah, old tools rock i would use them thats what they were made for. The feel of quality you just don't have nowadays. And the build styles of those old tools, they made them look good not just functional, solid brass, and lathe-turned wood instead of aluminum and plastic.  I have some old tools, I bought new lol.

I will generally always choose function over form if I have to, but if I can have a functional piece that is also beautiful? That is my preference! I am an artist, and I appreciate having tools that are themselves a piece of art. 

9 hours ago, stampingdelight said:

great find

Thanks!

[DoubleKCustomLeathercraft]

I love refurbishing and using antique tools. I don't have but a handful of for leathercraft. A few punches that I never use, and a wing divider that's always in my hand. It's smaller, but comfortable to use. The patina is prefect too. I have a cherry wood chest full of wood working planes from ca. 1850's, 32 planes, afew saws, some wooden measuring sticks, and a handle of other tools for timber framing, cabinetry, and finish work. All these, and the leather tools were from my great great great grandpa and his partner. Yes that's 3 greats in there lol.