bvdv Report post Posted December 30, 2018 I found some old tools from my Great grand father. Unfortunately he died, so did my grand father and father. I heard he was a shoe maker. Can anyone identify the brand of the awl, I can't make anything from it ? Maybe it helps if I mention I live in belgium. Thx in advance Bert Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
TonyV Report post Posted December 30, 2018 Nice old stitching awl.. It would be an honor to use a great grandfather's tools. Heck, I don't even have any of my father's tools. Sorry, the brand stamp I can not read. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kiwican Report post Posted December 30, 2018 Could be a home brew. I hope you realize just how lucky you are to have that tool used by your great grandfarther. HOLD on to it. USE it. Honour the man. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bikermutt07 Report post Posted December 31, 2018 Excuse my ignorance, as I am no expert in vintage tools. From what I am seeing near the hilt it looks suspiciously like an old file that was made into an awl. This is just a guess. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Samalan Report post Posted December 31, 2018 Nice tool use it and when you do say hello to an old friend . its funny almost every tool i use i say hello, sometimes ill sit in the shop and look at the tools i have in the thousands .one guy gave me his great grandfathers saddle makers tools in unbelievable good condition, when i ask him for a price he said just use them some of them i have know idea what thy even are, thy came in trunks with hand written letters from 1890 and leather samples. buckles i cant name it all here lets just say a lot funny part i don't even know this man my son told his new doc i do leather work and the doc said would your farther like some old leather working tools and wow . Thanks for showing it that's very cool. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bvdv Report post Posted January 1, 2019 Thx for all the kind words, and yes I definitely will use them. I have plenty more I post pictures if you like to view them. Bert Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bvdv Report post Posted January 1, 2019 I have to sharpen some. Also last awl it has a broken point but I think I can fix that. I will get some more pictures what was included in his toolbox. Bert Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
rleather Report post Posted January 1, 2019 An absolute priceless treasure! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bvdv Report post Posted January 1, 2019 Something strange I think he used it to wax his thread Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Aven Report post Posted January 1, 2019 I agree with Bikermutt, the awl looks like it was a small triangle file before it was worked into an awl. The black stuff looks like winter code or hand wax that shoemakers used on the threads for stitching the upper to the the sole. Winter hand wax is sticker than summer wax. Its a combination of pitch and wax. It protects the thread and seals up the holes. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
YinTx Report post Posted January 1, 2019 Looks like shoe maker's tools! Nice. I have some old awls, they are made with those ridges. I think they are there to help the blade retention when set into a wooden handle. Doubt it was a file to start with. @Samalan, you should start a separate thread and share images of some of your old tools, sounds fascinating! YinTx Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ComputerDoctor Report post Posted January 1, 2019 What I like is the nice and thick wood handles that one can actually GRIP I would use then ONCE in his honor and then display them! Sam Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bvdv Report post Posted January 1, 2019 I have some old German pairing knives from him too. I put some pictures on tomorrow Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Samalan Report post Posted January 1, 2019 4 hours ago, YinTx said: Looks like shoe maker's tools! Nice. I have some old awls, they are made with those ridges. I think they are there to help the blade retention when set into a wooden handle. Doubt it was a file to start with. @Samalan, you should start a separate thread and share images of some of your old tools, sounds fascinating! YinTx I will i'll have to do it when my son comes over i have no idea how to put pic on the computer lucky i can turn this thing on ,but there is a lot of very nice tools thanks for the suggestion. YinTx Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bvdv Report post Posted January 1, 2019 Some old school thread's Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bvdv Report post Posted January 1, 2019 Some pill bottles he used for needle container Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bvdv Report post Posted January 1, 2019 Some of these stuff were in this container. I don't know if it belongs to my great grandfather or my grandfather, the only thing I know is my grand father wasn't a shoe maker but he could have put in stuff into this box. I received this box from my father. Who received it from his father. But this stuff is so vintage. Nicely made I share it with you guys Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bvdv Report post Posted January 2, 2019 First knive Second knive Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
YinTx Report post Posted January 4, 2019 Solingen Steel is some of the best. I think these are skiving knives, I've always wondered how the curved ones worked. Nice! YinTx Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ABHandmade Report post Posted January 4, 2019 I suspect that many of these tools will survive more than a dozen of modern ones. But in general, guys, I sometimes envy in a good way that, next to many of you, there are (or were ) people who can not only tell, but also visually show the secrets of mastery. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Scoutmom103 Report post Posted January 4, 2019 Thank you for sharing these pictures Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Harry Marinakis Report post Posted January 24, 2019 Soak those babies in Evapo-Rust to clean them up. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
charlesfalzon Report post Posted January 24, 2019 very nice collection I envy you as I am myself a vintage/antiques collector Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites