Which Pricking Iron Do You Own?

[Matt S]

I suspect the Le Prevo are by an ex Dixons man who has set up by himself. If so i have 2 of them as well - they are quite hefty, really too much so for fine work but strong and long lived. I think Abbey sell them as well. I'd be interested to see a photo if you have one

Charlie

There we are, family portrait. Left to right:

Geo Barnsley 4SPI (Was told this is for spacing boot nails, but if so don't see why it's marked in SPI rather than PPI if so.)

5 SPI x 1-1/2" (probably Dixon)

6 SPI x 1-1/2" modern Dixon

7 SPI x 1-1/2" (unknown)

8 SPI x 1" (probably Dixon)

9 SPI x 1/2" Dryad (marked in PPI) -- fine little thing, lightweight and refined

10SPI x 1-1/2" (unknown)

10 SPI x 1" left handed (unknown, ground down Dixon?)

11 SPI x 3/8" Dryad (non-slanted teeth)

12 SPI x 1/2" (probably Dixon)

Edited March 23, 2014 by Matt S

[DavidL]

had a chance to play around with my dixon pricking iron #7. Now I understand the difference in price when compared to a vergez blanchard. The new dixon pricking irons are essentially unfinished pricking irons, almost like un sharpened awls you have to use a sharpening stone to slim down the blade. After you slim down the blades you have to sharpen the iron at 15 degrees, which in turn tapers the end of the prong. The last step is to take the iron and run it 90 degrees to the face of the stone to even out the prongs so that it hits flat on. If need be take a needle file and slim down in between the prong if any of them are a touch too large.

In my opinion if you need an iron just to mess around with this is a cheap buy and will last a long time. The vergez is the finished more refined version of the modern dixon.