Tool Talk

What's-It Forum => What's-It Forum => Topic started by: Greenwood on March 29, 2016, 06:16:48 PM

Title: Draw knife ID help.
Post by: Greenwood on March 29, 2016, 06:16:48 PM
Hello

Purchase a few lots from a recent auction and now starting to clean everything. I do love the process and Evapo-Rust makes "quick" work of it.

The first draw knife cleaned up very well but I am stuck on the name can only make out "YAL" and Number 7

The second draw knife stamped "E SAWYER" "CAST STEEL" I am wondering is the Sawyer a maker name? I don't have many books on antique tools as of yet and a Google search did not help.

Thank you for any/all help.
Title: Re: Draw knife ID help.
Post by: mikeswrenches on March 30, 2016, 07:29:10 AM
The number on all draw knives I have seen, refers to the length of the cutting edge, as to the YAL I don't know.

On your second knife I believe the name is probably the makers mark, as owners marks are not normally stamped that deeply.  As far as who he might be, the following is all I could find.

The EAIA Directory of American Tool Makers shows only an Oliver Sawyer working in Bolton, MA from 1804-1836 as a maker of draw knives and other edge tools.  He is the only maker of edge tools listed, although there is an S. Sawyer who made coach makers tools and planes, but dates of when he worked aren't listed.

The first initial looks to me like either a K or an R not an E.

I want to change my mind.  An E or possibly an F?  Although still no help.

Mike
Title: Re: Draw knife ID help.
Post by: Greenwood on March 30, 2016, 09:46:10 AM
Thank you for the information!

I will be also looking up the EAIA Directory of American Tool Makers sounds like a good thing to have around if collecting :smiley:.
Title: Re: Draw knife ID help.
Post by: chips on March 30, 2016, 01:59:41 PM
The first one might say Royale.  I've had a lot of drawknives but I can't recall seeing that stamp before and a quick google search didn't help at all.
Title: Re: Draw knife ID help.
Post by: mikeswrenches on March 31, 2016, 12:12:44 PM
The following link should take you to the proper place on the EAIA site to get the DAT CD.

http://eaiainfo.org/store/cart/

Mike