Tool, Scoring

Object Name:

Tool, Scoring

Object ID:

1994.508.01

Description:

Slitting tool. Wood and steel. Long, medium-brown, hardwood oval shaft, becomes round ~2.5" from bottom end. On one side of shaft, metal strip, 0.4" wide, flush nailed to side of shaft and ends near where shaft becomes round. At that point, 0.7" wide cutting blade that extends through slot in shaft. Blade 4.8" long. Semi-circular cutting surface at end of blade. Scribe marks around shaft that correspond to slot of cutting blade. Below cutting blade is another slot. In this slot is piece of metal slightly below surface on both sides. Handle tapers slightly to steel collar that surrounds shaft, extends into cylindrical handle with slight swell in center. Tang extends out end of 0.43" handle, bent over and driven into wood. 0.5" wide x 1" long blade that extends from bottom of shaft. Blade surface slightly rounded and smooth, but not sharp. Some extra nails driven into bottom of shaft to perhaps help hold blade and handle in place. A 5" x 4" oval guide that slides up and down long shaft; 1.3" thick. Large thumbscrew that passes through square, steel nut, makes contact with strip on metal on side of long shaft. Band of steel wrapped around guide, ~0.75" of the way. Centered on thumbscrew. Four nails holding strap in place. One nail failed and strap turned up a little at that location. On bottom side of guide, strip sheet steel screwed to bottom surface, ~1.5" wide; ends cut to match outside surface of guide. Applied strap to guide helps to hold square nut in place. Appears tool made without this additional strap, and pressure on nut forces section of guide to split and move toward outside. Surface plate on bottom of movable guide is over and above cutting blade.

Material:

Wood
Steel

Dimensions:

H-17.5 L-7.7 D-1.6 inches

Credit Line:

New Hampshire Historical Society Collection