# What is this antique iron tool? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [February 20, 2012, 2:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-antique-iron-tool/613420 "2012-02-20T14:29:58Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![sweeteviljesus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/898d66/32.png) [@sweeteviljesus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sweeteviljesus)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2012, 10:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-antique-iron-tool/613420/41 "2012-02-22T22:50:09Z")
Barrel bung hole reamer? Rob ---
**Author:** ![Derleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Derleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Derleth)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2012, 11:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-antique-iron-tool/613420/42 "2012-02-22T23:11:11Z")
> [@sweeteviljesus](#): > > Barrel bung hole reamer? > > Rob Did you see [any](http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/CowTools) [cows](http://agonist.org/jimbo92107/20080321/cow_tools_revisiting_a_comic_masterpiece) using it? ---
**Author:** ![Musicat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/musicat/32/20189_2.png) [@Musicat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Musicat)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2012, 11:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-antique-iron-tool/613420/43 "2012-02-22T23:12:40Z")
> [@crowmanyclouds](#): > > Just to be certain about the mystery tool, the best description would be; three wedges, joined at their edges to make a three pointed one of these [sub]\*[/sub] as seen from the bottom, with a handle, correct? Yes. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2012, 11:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-antique-iron-tool/613420/44 "2012-02-22T23:30:06Z")
> [@sweeteviljesus](#): > > Barrel bung hole reamer? > > Rob It seems very large to be used by hand, but the handle obviously doesn’t attach to anything save a hand. I was thinking a water well drill bit, but again, it can’t connect to anything. ---
**Author:** ![Emerson](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/c77e96/32.png) [@Emerson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Emerson)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2012, 11:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-antique-iron-tool/613420/45 "2012-02-22T23:38:29Z")
> [@Batfish](#): > > Try this guy’s blog. [http://55tools.blogspot.com/](http://55tools.blogspot.com/) Thanks for the link! I had one of these on my site 3-1/2 years ago, it’s a cooper’s splitter, used to split a white oak sapling for making wooden barrel hoops. The one that I posted can be seen here: > **[What is it? Answers 252](http://answers252-r.blogspot.com/)** The only other reference that I have for it is on page 449 in the ‘Dictionary of American Hand Tools’, I recommend this book to anyone interested in tools. ---
**Author:** ![Musicat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/musicat/32/20189_2.png) [@Musicat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Musicat)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2012, 11:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-antique-iron-tool/613420/46 "2012-02-22T23:50:00Z")
Thanks, Emerson! The 3rd & 4th pics on the link match exactly. Now I wonder just how it was used. Looks like it was struck after all. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2012, 12:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-antique-iron-tool/613420/47 "2012-02-23T00:15:01Z")
I love the 'Dope! 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Musicat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/musicat/32/20189_2.png) [@Musicat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Musicat)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2012, 12:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-antique-iron-tool/613420/48 "2012-02-23T00:29:50Z")
> [@carnivorousplant](#): > > I love the 'Dope! > 🙂 And I feel honored that **Emerson** used one of his valuable, once-yearly posts to respond to me. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Springtime\_for\_Spacers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a3d4f5/32.png) [@Springtime\_for\_Spacers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Springtime_for_Spacers)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2012, 12:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-antique-iron-tool/613420/49 "2012-02-23T00:31:40Z")
Great that this has been solved. As a last resort I was going to suggest microwear analysis, which can be used to show what a stone or metal tool has been used for. I suspect it’s rather expensive however. ---
**Author:** ![Musicat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/musicat/32/20189_2.png) [@Musicat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Musicat)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2012, 12:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-antique-iron-tool/613420/50 "2012-02-23T00:49:07Z")
Just as a confirmation, we’re going to take this tool to Ralph, who runs the sawmill nearby. His dad (now deceased) was quite a cooper, I hear, and Ralph might recognize it. ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2012, 1:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-antique-iron-tool/613420/51 "2012-02-23T01:36:03Z")
> [@Musicat](#): > > Thanks, Emerson! The 3rd & 4th pics on the link match exactly. > > Now I wonder just how it was used. Looks like it was struck after all. For splitting staves cut from saplings/coppice, it might not be struck - it could be held against the end of the stick, then the opposite end of the stick struck against a hard surface - the momentum of the heavy iron tool thus driving itself into the wood. Or it might be designed to be struck by a wooden mallet, rather than a steel hammer. ---
**Author:** ![crowmanyclouds](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crowmanyclouds/32/19884_2.png) [@crowmanyclouds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/crowmanyclouds)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2012, 3:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-antique-iron-tool/613420/52 "2012-02-23T03:03:37Z")
> [@Emerson](#): > > … it’s a cooper’s splitter … Cool! I was in the right ballpark. Now what I really came in to post, > [@Emerson](#): > > Thanks for the link! … Your website should be banned. :mad: Hardcore tool-porn like that is proven to lead to the purchase of tools that you really don’t have any use for . . . but are just to cool not to own. 😃 I have no need to carve my own spoons or bowls, yet somehow I own a [spoon/bowl carving knife](http://shopping.howei.com/index.php?route=product/product&product_id=621). 😕 CMC fnord! ---
**Author:** ![Becky2844](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/91b2a8/32.png) [@Becky2844](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Becky2844)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2012, 6:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-antique-iron-tool/613420/53 "2012-02-23T06:14:45Z")
> [@Musicat](#): > > And I feel honored that **Emerson** used one of his valuable, once-yearly posts to respond to me. 🙂 Boy, are you easy. ---
**Author:** ![Cheesesteak](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cheesesteak/32/3694_2.png) [@Cheesesteak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cheesesteak)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2012, 10:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-antique-iron-tool/613420/54 "2012-02-23T10:54:12Z")
> [@Mangetout](#): > > Or it might be designed to be struck by a wooden mallet, rather than a steel hammer. this is probably it. I think back to the Woodwrights Shop TV show, he splits wood with various tools, and always uses a mallet instead of a hammer. Small pieces of dry wood split pretty easily. ---
**Author:** ![JBDivmstr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/b4bc9f/32.png) [@JBDivmstr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JBDivmstr)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2012, 7:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-antique-iron-tool/613420/55 "2012-02-23T19:49:30Z")
> [@crowmanyclouds](#): > > Cool! … > > _ **Hardcore tool-porn like that is proven to lead to the purchase of tools that you really don’t have any use for. . . but are just too cool not to own.** _ 😃 > > I have no need to carve my own spoons or bowls, yet somehow I own a [spoon/bowl carving knife](http://shopping.howei.com/index.php?route=product/product&product_id=621). 😕 > > CMC fnord! (bolding mine) I’m with you on that, **crowmanyclouds**. 😉 I don’t presently own ‘a spoon/bowl carving knife’, but after looking at that site, I sure as hell want one now! 😃 ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2012, 8:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-antique-iron-tool/613420/56 "2012-02-23T20:05:41Z")
> [@Mangetout](#): > > Or it might be designed to be struck by a wooden mallet, rather than a steel hammer. Almost everything is, except for smithing and stone tools. But that handle would make a mess of the face of a wooden mallet if you struck it much. I suspect no striking is intended at all. I’m not exactly buying the explanation. My extensive knowledge of coopery (that’s barrel making right? :)) would indicate that it isn’t used to make hoops, which would be either metal, or thin flexible strips of wood. Maybe it was useful for rough cutting or shaping staves though. But they would have been hand worked afterwards to get the angles and shape correct. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2012, 9:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-antique-iron-tool/613420/57 "2012-02-23T21:14:21Z")
Staves, surely. Would a tube with a large flat back have fit over the handle? ---
**Author:** ![Musicat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/musicat/32/20189_2.png) [@Musicat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Musicat)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2012, 12:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-antique-iron-tool/613420/58 "2012-02-24T00:16:46Z")
> [@carnivorousplant](#): > > Staves, surely. > > Would a tube with a large flat back have fit over the handle? What would that do? (If it was used, I have no evidence.) ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2012, 3:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-antique-iron-tool/613420/59 "2012-02-24T03:18:08Z")
> [@Musicat](#): > > What would that do? (If it was used, I have no evidence.) One could beat it with a mallet. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2012, 5:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-antique-iron-tool/613420/60 "2012-02-24T05:22:41Z")
Here it is, a [Cooper’s Hoop Cleaver](http://www.worthpoint.com/worthopedia/antique-coopers-hoop-cleaver-rare). This one has a knob on the end clearly for hitting with a mallet. This was used for wood hoops, which were primarily used before 1800. So the tool in the OP could be very old and rare. I’m not sure how it helps cut wooden barrel hoops. The wooden hoops could vary from thin strips of flexible wood to inch thick material that had to be heated and bent on a form. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-antique-iron-tool/613420.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-antique-iron-tool/613420.md?page=4)