What's this tool used for?

G

Guy McVer

Joined
Mar 22, 2022
Messages
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Found this at a thrift store.

wassat.jpg


I can't figure out what the awl shaped tool is for.

I'm pretty sure it's not an awl. It's too round and it has no edge. I am confident that it was never sharp to begin with; I don't think it was meant to have an edge or a sharp point. So it's not like it became dull over time.
 
SwissHeritageCo said:
With the lack of other specialized tools I'd still go with awl lol.
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I just don't think that's what it is. It's too round. It looks like it never had an edge or a sharp tip. The other side is completely round as well. It doesn't have a flat edge. The whole surface is curved.

And look at the cutout. Isn't that a weirdly specific shape? It's almost like an arrowhead.

Anyway, the tang stamp on the knife says:

KUTMASTER
UTICA, N.Y.
MADE IN USA


Hmm. Maybe it is an awl. I don't know. It just doesn't seem like one.
 
You make an interesting case. Maybe you can get some closer macro shots of it? Your explanation helps but from the photo it looks very awl-ish.
 
broken wood gouge maybe?
I think I have a similar "punch" with a chisel grind on the inner curve.
I'll see if I can find it.

EDIT:
I guess "HAD" is the proper terminology. I don't see it among the knives I have access to.
My guess it is in the bag of knives that was lost/misplaced when I moved here, or, is somehere in my camper that I have little to zero chance of returning to, to get a few things.

The closest I can find right now is the single grouve punch on my 852211-P Harness Jack.

Sorry. ☹️
 
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After doing a little searching, Kutmaster made a boy scout knife exactly like this, with different scales and a boy scout logo. So it must in fact be an awl. But the pictures I found of it show that the awl on that model doesn't have the weird cutout on it like mine does.

🤷‍♂️I guess I'm just overthinking it.

It doesn't seem like it would be a very effective awl though.
 
Yep, awl. But a worn down dull one. They were used as a poking, prodding, digging, whatever tool. Yours look like its been used hard. Try sharpening it up with a chisel edge to get it back to its real use as an awl.
 
ferider said:
Punching a hole, say, in a can of condensed milk.
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I'd say that's the most plausible explanation so far.

The large cutout might be for bending a small piece of the steel can lid downwards, similar to a church key. That might also explain the curved back side. And it would explain the rounded tip. You wouldn't want the tip to be pointed if you were punching holes in can lids, since a pointed tip could just break off.
 
Guy McVer said:
I guess it really is just an awl. 🤷‍♂️
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Yes, I think that is correct. I remember this type of blade on the old Boy Scout knives, and I always called them a "punch". I tend to think of them as a cross between an awl, and a spoon bit ( a type of drill bit). I think using them more like a reamer works pretty well. I have a very similar blade on the M-2205, "general purpose knife", that was issued to me in the Navy. It will definitely ream a hole in 7/8 oz leather (I just tried it. :) ).
 
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Looking at some vintage Kutmaster knives online, that tool looks more like the punch on their stockman model than it does to the awl on some other models. So I would guess they meant it to be a punch\marlin spike and not a sharpened awl. The punch on the other models does not have an edge, but all the awls do.
 
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