# Does anyone know what this old tool is?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-know-what-this-old-tool-is/489494>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [March 15, 2009, 3:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-know-what-this-old-tool-is/489494 "2009-03-15T03:48:49Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 4

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**Author:** ![ClintPhoenix](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b9bd4f/32.png) [@ClintPhoenix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ClintPhoenix)\
**Post date:** [June 22, 2009, 8:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-know-what-this-old-tool-is/489494/61 "2009-06-22T20:13:10Z")

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The [What is it?](http://55tools.blogspot.com/search?updated-max=2009-04-16T04%3A00%3A00-04%3A00&max-results=1) blog lists the following [answer](http://answers279s.blogspot.com/):

> [@](#):
>
> 1. My guess is that this tool was used for making sand casting patterns, the only other suggestions posted were that it’s a tool for holding corrugated metal in place during assembly, and for installing an escutcheon plate over a lock handle.

So, it doesn’t look like any definitive answer has been reached.

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**Author:** ![Nefarious\_Chipmunk](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nefarious_chipmunk/32/1045_2.png) [@Nefarious\_Chipmunk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nefarious_Chipmunk)\
**Post date:** [June 22, 2009, 8:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-know-what-this-old-tool-is/489494/62 "2009-06-22T20:23:32Z")

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I never did. As posted above, the What is it? blog wasn’t able to supply any definitive answer, nor have any other experts I have inquired with. I am still open to suggestions… 🙂

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**Author:** ![FalconFinder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/51bf81/32.png) [@FalconFinder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FalconFinder)\
**Post date:** [June 22, 2009, 11:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-know-what-this-old-tool-is/489494/63 "2009-06-22T23:18:22Z")

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Bummer. I don’t know why it’s so intriguing to me!

My thought was the same as someone else’s – I thought it was a leather working tool. I hope this mystery gets solved!

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**Author:** ![Jerseyman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/bbce88/32.png) [@Jerseyman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jerseyman)\
**Post date:** [June 23, 2009, 9:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-know-what-this-old-tool-is/489494/64 "2009-06-23T21:57:22Z")

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It looks like it’s used for shaping something fairly resistant or pushing it down over something. Steamed leather could be a distinct possibility.

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**Author:** ![silvermist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/cc9497/32.png) [@silvermist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silvermist)\
**Post date:** [June 24, 2009, 1:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-know-what-this-old-tool-is/489494/65 "2009-06-24T01:23:49Z")

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It looks like it might be used to pry off ones boots.

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