Today’s exercise in material culture. Found in a Kirksville MO junk store December 2013; paid a quarter.
A bit of a mystery here. (note: the upper and lower sides of the tool have been inferred from the angle
of sharpening on the blade)
Handmade scraper, about 7 cm x 27 cm – or 3” x10 ¾” – the English measurements are probably more
appropriate since the object is made from recycled dimensional lumber, ½” thick, originally lightcolored, extremely fine-grained, but lightweight and comparatively soft (possibly due to age). Close
examination reveals one side (which shows much more exposure) has a shallow channel 1 5/8” wide,
exactly matching that in a common window-sash probably not manufactured after the 1930s.
The blade is a 3 ½” x 3 ½” steel plate, 1/16” thick (16 gauge standard), in common use. Has very little
flex, and edge is not ground especially fine – used for heavy work.
The original stock was 3 ½” wide, judging by the manufactured appearance of the nonworking edges.
The blade has been sharpened at both ends for reversibility; therefore, the piercing is precisely
centered. The handle has been slotted to receive the blade, showing patience and skill (though the
centering is visibly imperfect on one side). This could only be done using a quality coping saw and a vise;
given the fact that a rotary drill was used to make at least one of the holes, the maker had access to a
well-outfitted workshop.
The blade is secured with an ordinary hex nut (1/16” thick), ¾” machine bolt (it appears to have been
filed flat from an original roundhead and then the slot re-channeled), with two matching ½” diameter
washers – which show no rust – all evidently salvaged or cannibalized. I have not removed the blade to
look at how the piercing was accomplished. Presumably the metal was heated with a torch, punched
and ground out. This would require some precision; make the hole too small and the blade would be unmountable; too big and it would wobble uselessly. Lining up the piercing in the blade with that in the
receiver also requires skill. Commercially-manufactured blades examined all have two piercings, either
parallel or perpendicular to the axis of use, to reduce freeplay; the maker here used precise seating in
the receiver-slot to accomplish the same purpose. The blade is not frozen in place (it can be moved) but
is functionally fixed. It is very slightly curved, suggesting it was meant for scraping rounded surfaces,
though extensive and inexpert sharpening would produce the same result. This tool was not made by
someone inept, and the personalization means it was almost certainly used by its maker, but it may
have been abused by a later owner.
A second hole has been drilled in the top, 9/16” diameter, almost all the way through the stock (the
pilot point has pierced the other side). Much larger than the other holes; purpose unknown. It does not
go all the way through, and may have been abortive. It is definitely made with a rotary drill. The hole at
the end opposite from the blade (7/16” dia), obviously meant for hanging the tool, appears to have
been carved at least partially with a knife.
The haft has been beveled at the front, apparently to reduce interference with the surface being
scraped. That would not explain the beveling on the upper side of the receiver, unless it shows a taste
for symmetry (which is not visible elsewhere) Noted: the beveling is not made easier by applying it to
both sides, but it is a trivial effort, and maybe makes the tool reversible. From a practical standpoint, it is
hard to imagine the beveling being done before the slotting.
The butt end of the handle has been rounded very roughly, but also shows polish from wear, consistent
with applying pressure with the heel of the hand.
There is no ornamentation; appearance seems to have played very little role in design.
Not weighed; estimate less than eight ounces.
The most interesting feature here is the complex, unique, ergonomic carving of the handle, entirely
asymmetrical. Astonishing effort went into making a tool that even a hundred years ago could be bought
cheaply anywhere. It is skillfully whittled, probably with a small knife. It fits comfortably into the left
hand of an adult male of average size, with full reversibility – not so the right. Contact-soiling and wear
patterns support this hypothesis.
This probably explains the artifact – a southpaw, knowing he was going to spend a lot of time pushing
this thing, wanted something that would fit *him.*