The seller is quite adamant that this is a dibble.  And believes the conical dibble is a more modern form.  Claims this to be like the rest of his/her collection.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/RARE-ANTIQUE-OLD-DIBBLE-GARDEN-PLANTING-TOOL-HAND-WROUGHT-IRON-WITH-WOOD-HANDLE-/300709392915?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item4603ad3213

Since the ones from the Paleolithic are conical, just like those in use by hunter/gatherers like the  Australian Aborigines, the seller is quite wrong about conical being "modern."   Does anybody know of a dibble made like a tapered augur?  While there are a number of things called dibbles, I don't know of any that look like this.

Hmm, what do you call that tool they use to core a sample out of a sack at the customs dock?

As to hand made, it sure looks like it came out of a stamping mill to me....

Sellens calls it a New York Pattern Plumbers' Tap Borer, used to bore or ream holes in lead pipe. Similar to ones used by coopers' to cut or ream holes in the head of barrels.

I have seen a standard dibble listed on ebay as a plumbers' tool before. I questioned the seller and was told that the persons' father/grandfather was a plumber and they used the all metal ones when pouring lead to seal joints in cast iron plumbing. They used the dibble to pour the lead down to get into tight spaces.

In looking this up I never realized that this style of reamer/borer was a plumbers tool. I always associated it to carpenters or coopers use.

I also saw this listing and thought of questioning the seller but passed on by.

I sure looks like a lead pipe borer to me as well.  Lead pipe came in straight lengths only.   It was all cut to fit.   Plumbers had to fabricate their own unions, T's, and elbows, then solder them together.  Have one that looks exactl like this, even have a piece of lead drain pipe, with trap, but never tried boring in it. 

Quote from: rusty on May 13, 2012, 08:26:46 AM
Hmm, what do you call that tool they use to core a sample out of a sack at the customs dock?

Ive always called it a grain thief.  I have an all steel version about 4 inches long in the blade with a very slight taper, round end, probably 1/2 inch at its widest.

Quote from: rusty on May 13, 2012, 08:26:46 AM
As to hand made, it sure looks like it came out of a stamping mill to me....

At a closer look, I think you are right.  The early 1900's date given also argues against "hand wrought."

Well being ePay I guess the seller can call it Leotis if he wants, but it damn sure ain't wrought iron, far more likely a stamped steel blank. 
It ain't a theif of any kind because it would get hung on the heals pulling back out of the bag or drum.

Edges don't look thick enough for it to be any kind of reamer.

Seriously doubt it has a thing to do with lead pipe either.  Incidentally, Lead pipe isn't soldered, it's wiped by a man with a much bigger set than I have.  Only once was I close enough to a man wiping lead to see it done, and there is no way I ever pour a ladel of lead into a pad on y hand!

Known as a dibber in the UK, this tool is not..... It is as stated a plumbers tool for opening holes in lead pipe for the insertion of a tee branch, or even a tap into the main supply pipe. The joint would be wiped (i.e soldered with lead solder that is wiped smooth).
See http://chestofbooks.com/home-improvement/construction/plumbing/Standard-Practical/Chapter-I-The-Plumber-s-Tools.html where the illustration labels it a Philadelphia pattern tap borer....

The tap borer is used in boring a hole of any size into the side of a lead pipe. Such a hole may be made entirely with the tap borer, or it may be started first with a bit. The latter is usually the preferable method, as on heavy lead pipe it is slow work getting the hole started, and so much pressure is necessary that light pipe is in danger of being crushed. The tap borer is made in two styles, the New York pattern being long and sharply tapered, and the Philadelphia pattern short, with a taper less sharp.


Read more: http://chestofbooks.com/home-improvement/construction/plumbing/Standard-Practical/Chapter-I-The-Plumber-s-Tools.html#ixzz1uyuxp1wh

Thank you Billman!  I'm still annoyed a bit by the seller's reply.  Dibbles and dibbers are for poking holes, not carving or cutting them.   Apparently, judging from the response, this person has a collection of tap borers that somebody has deluded them into thinking they are dibbles, the old form, before the modern conical models.  Or maybe he has just chosen to delude himself.

And maybe what I have myself is a New York pattern tap borer that some smith made out of an old rasp.  Works good on wood, though.<g>

Seems plausable to me that the Tap borer was inspired/improved from an ordinary auger/reamer tool, so I don't see any reason you can't repurpose it back to wood -P

That's one of the things that complicates old tool identification, so many tools are just slightly modified versions of totally different tools made to perform some new job for which the old form was almost the right form...

I always thought they were reamers for working lead pipe.  Same as a pipe reamer nowadays.
Take the burr off after you cut it.

  But I can tell you one thing for absolute sure.
The edges are plenty thick. If you grind them well, these make a dandy fast reamer for wood
  or an instant burr remover for pvc pipe.   

  They work outstandingly well when sharp.
  yours Scott

My vote is for a plumber's reamer, as well, althought I have also seen then referred to as cabbage corers.

Lynn

I dug up this thread because I stumbled across yet another use for this odd  tool...

Neat use of that tool.