Hand tool identification?.

[sionnachairgid]

Good morning, for the past 20 years I have been involved in establishing the biggest Natural Woodland Regeneration Scheme in the U.K. (3400 hectares) at Kinlochleven, and am retired now.

I was recently shown this photo and I'm certain I know what it is, and in fact have a plain one,  but have never seen a combination one !!. It has become the subject of heated debate with a leather worker and I'd be very grateful if anyone can give an independet identification.

[Paul in the woods]

If you don't get any answers here I would recommend posting on https://bushcraftuk.com/community/ forum as there's leather workers, historians and general tool collectors over there.

 

I'll happily post a thread for you if you wish.

Edited February 2, 2021 by Paul in the woods

[Stere]

You could also try this facebook group

 

https://www.facebook.com/groups/947783798632173

 

Guy on there has the website A load of old billhooks an often posting what is it pics for hand tools

 

A Load of Old Billhooks - Home

WWW.BILLHOOKS.CO.UK

 

[sionnachairgid]

Thanks guys, I'm sure it's a tree bark marking tool, I have and use my grandfather's old one with one blade (like this pic) and it looks to me  that the combi one is for also marking circles.

[Stere]

I think you are right as one looks  the same here:

 

http://www.penryfamily.com/surveying/timberscribe.html

Edited February 2, 2021 by Stere

[Spruce Pirate]

What does your leather working friend think it is?

[sionnachairgid]

Stere,  Absolutely spot on!!.  Over the moon!!. Thanks a million!!!

[ESS]

First time i have seen one like that.Scribes were common place when i first started , before the use of tree paint became common.

Tree measurements and i.d numbers were scribed into the end grain, butt end, i wonder if these were designed to make scribing circular numbers easier ? Would make sense.

[EXRM]

Looks like an old school tree scribe. I use a farriers knife that I found in my grandads shed.