Tool Talk
General Category => General Discussion => Topic started by: keykeeper on July 28, 2013, 01:23:53 PM
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I posted this over on Papaw's facebook page, but thought I would post it here for all those that don't use Facebook. Enjoy.
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(Keykeeper-Aaron C.)---
I was looking at this claw hatchet at the flea market this weekend. As I was examining it, I muttered "Now why would someone go and mount this thing upside down on this handle?" I was immediately asked by an older gentlman "you know what that is?" I looked at him and replied "yes, I do, it is a claw hatchet mounted the wrong way on this handle" The guy grabs it from me, and proceeds to dress me down....he tells me " This is a CRATE HAMMER, the claw for prying out nails (he shows me the motion) the flat side for prying boards, and the hammer for driving nails.....I KNOW, I've OWNED THEM BEFORE!!!!" Then he forcefully slammed it back on the table, exactly where i snapped this picture.
At this point I was ready to smack this old grump upside his melon, not because he was wrong, but because he acted like since I was younger that I was stupid and knew nothing about tools or their use.
Being the bigger man, I looked him in the eye, smiled, and said "That's a claw hatchet and you are ignorant." I then walked away, and didn't even waste my time on the rest of the tools there. There were scads on the table. I don't even think it was his booth! What a jerk!
(https://sphotos-a-ord.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/1001814_597800710265051_735951675_n.jpg)
I'm still scratching me head over this one. LOL.
Here's some of the replies I got on that page, thanks guys for backing me up!!
Papaw and 8 others like this.
Lynn Dowd Situations like that always remind me of the saying "Never try to teach a pig to sing. It wastes your time, and it annoys the pig". You're right, the handle is on upside down. I wonder what he would have had to say about the nib on old saws.
July 15 at 12:16pm · Like
Papaw The funny part was, I didn't even ask for his "lesson" in tool usage/design. I think he offered it trying to impress the guy he was with. Worst thing about it-whoever rehandled it did a superb job, it looked and fit nice!! (Just wrong way!!)
July 15 at 1:29pm via mobile · Like
Papaw "64longstep/Brian" In the words Ron White- Stupid should hurt... LOL
July 15 at 2:43pm · Like
Scott Grandstaff Looks to be in real nice shape too. I bet it would come off and go back on correctly without too much trouble.
July 16 at 10:39am · Like
Papaw (Keykeeper/aaron) Scott, it was actually very nice. I never asked a price. This was one of those "priced upon request" tables. Nothing had a tag, and after the guys attitude, I wouldn't have bought from that booth anyway! I have my principles, and this turd will never get a nickel out if my pocket, the jerk.
July 16 at 11:05am via mobile · Like
Lynn Dowd A funny thing - I was looking in Salaman's book on woodworking tools yesterday and saw an illustration of this style hatchet. They showed one handled the conventional way, and one handled with the claw pointing up, like this one. All the catalog illustrations I have seen (from companies who produced this type hatchet) show it with the claws pointing down.
July 16 at 12:14pm · Like
Papaw (Aaron)I just can't see having much leverage to pull a decent size nail if the claw is up. The handle would limit travel, I would think.
July 16 at 12:31pm via mobile · Like
Scott Grandstaff The previous owner was an idiot! I expect he paid someone to mount that handle like that and demanded it be done that way. Anyone who had the skill to fit that handle would have naturally put it on right side up.
July 16 at 12:43pm · Unlike · 1
Lynn Dowd I think the claws would be more prone to breakage, as well. When used as a hammer, you tend to strike towards the top of the face. Several miscalculations in your swing and the claw could break off.
July 16 at 12:54pm · Like
Scott Grandstaff 3 out of 4 of these have at least one broken claw. I have one downstairs with no claws.Well, ok, stumps heeehehehe
July 16 at 1:53pm · Edited · Unlike · 1
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> I've OWNED THEM BEFORE!!!!
Probably uses them to remove wood screws.....
Almost bet money he owns an antiquey store and the flea is for selling off the discards. There is a fellow at the local flea here that does that. He knows everything about everything, and he's never sold me a thing ;P
Someday I'm going to give him a screwdriver and a screw and see if he knows which way to turn it....
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That's the Australian mounting. Did the guy have an Aussie accent?
No, not really...
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I didn't see that on Noels page, never had that happen to me thought, usually I tell people what they have.
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Only one question......Whats facebook? :)
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Only one question......Whats facebook? :)
proof positive we need a sarcasm font......
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https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=597800740265048&id=104028749642252 (https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=597800740265048&id=104028749642252)
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Remember keykeeper; NEVER argue with an idiot, people get confused as to which one is the idiot.
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If Scott has some broken ones, he can always cut the claws flush and make them into nice looking hatchets.....
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Reminds me of the seller a while back who listed a T handle reamer as a dibble. Insisted she was an advanced collector of dibbles, and that this was the original style of dibble, unlike the modern cone shaped things. I did point out that dibbles had been around since before the Stone Age, and were always shaped as conical implements.
Your example makes the second I've seen with the head upside down. You're right -- sheer ignorance. This style, and the shingling hatchet, were the first to mass produced hatchet heads in the US. When I was working at Sutter's Fort, I had to document every tool I used there to be correct for 1846, and the mass produced claw (and shingling) hatchets date to 1845, handled with the claws down.
As said in the Three Stooges, "What a maroon!"
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Iwould hope rather than stick to my guns and get a riled up . I THINK I would take the customers side and hope he buys it. I could not care what he uses it for ,I WOULD SAY IT'S NICE TO FIND A TOOL EXPERT THAT REALLY KNOWS HIS TOOLS bob w
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Bob,
I am no expert by any means, but this guy assumed because I was younger than the typical tool collector/buyer crowd, that I had no idea.
Right time, right place in my life, I would've stood there and argued with the crackpot until he turned red, hoping he would take a swing at me. Not worth my time or effort now, not to mention I'd lose my job for crap like that in public.
What really gets me is people that don't price their items, waiting to "price on request". I'm sure they base their price on the potential buyers appearance, manner, etc.
I've actually had my wife price things for me, then when I price them, they change the asking price to a lower price. They figure since she is a woman, she doesn't know any better, I guess.
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Insisted she was an advanced collector of dibbles...
To which statement I'd have been tempted to reply, "Gosh, I'm sorry."
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Now see, had this company been putting the heads on right side up all those years ago, they'd probably still be in business today...
(http://www.treasurenet.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=32722&d=1332361007)
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Only one question......Whats facebook? :)
proof positive we need a sarcasm font......
Or rolling eyes.......... sumpthin :)