Michael Cochran Posted July 14, 2015 Share Posted July 14, 2015 Yesterday I had a woman give me some of her ex-husbands tools that he left a few years ago and hoped someone might could help me out with a couple of them. I know that she gave me two chisels and I think a third but I'm unsure. And I know this thing is a flat head screw driver but I've never seen a handle like this and hoped someone could shed some light on it for me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rainbows Posted July 14, 2015 Share Posted July 14, 2015 I once saw that pattern screwdriver handle being labeled a "gunsmiths screwdriver". No idea if that was just to increase sales. I think those chisels could be hand forged. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michael Cochran Posted July 14, 2015 Author Share Posted July 14, 2015 The other two chisels look homemade (cut and ground) from a wrecking bar but this one had me baffled. I'm just assuming it's a chisel but with one side flat and the other side rounded over like that I'm at a loss. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasPowers Posted July 14, 2015 Share Posted July 14, 2015 I've seen a lot of those screwdrivers and only own a half dozen myself. Pretty standard for pre plastic days. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michael Cochran Posted July 14, 2015 Author Share Posted July 14, 2015 So we're talking 1950s? I first saw the screwdriver as potential punch stock until I looked it over a little and thought I'd better ask about it first. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michael Posted July 15, 2015 Share Posted July 15, 2015 That screwdriver handle is called a Perfect Handle. There were patents back in the day but after a while a lot of manufacturers made them that way. Some of the Old Tool Galoots will redo the handle slabs with exotic scraps of wood. The really rare ones are the Perfect Handle Philips head screwdrivers. Should have bought them new in the 80's when I had the chance.You'll occasionally see hammers, wrenches and hatchets with Pefect handles. One guy I knew, an expert welder, used to make all sorts of Perfect handle tools that were never handled like that originally. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michael Cochran Posted July 15, 2015 Author Share Posted July 15, 2015 Thanks, Michael, I now know what to look for to learn more about my new screwdriver. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frosty Posted July 15, 2015 Share Posted July 15, 2015 While the chisel might just BE that way because, I've seen the same general profile used like a plane. The single bevel lets you lay it flat against the stock and remove whatever's sticking up, say rivet heads, weld beads, etc. without the chisel wanting to dig in.Frosty The Lucky. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michael Cochran Posted July 17, 2015 Author Share Posted July 17, 2015 Thanks, Frosty, for giving me a clue about that chisel. I've never seen that shape before so I was completely at a loss. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasPowers Posted July 17, 2015 Share Posted July 17, 2015 There are a lot of flat ended curved chisels used in old school plumbing to pack the lead poured over the oakum in the cast iron pipe joints, many are offset too and confuse the heck out of folks who have never seen or worked with such old school methods. (I've owned old houses as you may have guessed) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Latticino Posted July 17, 2015 Share Posted July 17, 2015 Thomas,do you know whether those plumbing packing chisels were typically made from decent tool steel? I recently picked up a box of around 50 chisels that look a lot like the one the OP posted and would like to know whether they are worth reworking into forging chisels. Some of them appear to have broken away ends, and the grain size looks a bit large. Haven't had a chance to try forging same yet, or even spark testing, but that is the next step. Thanks, Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasPowers Posted July 17, 2015 Share Posted July 17, 2015 some yes; some no and some middling. Depends on the manufacturer, date, quality level,.....Junkyard rules apply! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michael Cochran Posted July 17, 2015 Author Share Posted July 17, 2015 (edited) I thought about tryin to make somethin useful out of this one but I might just leave it as it is and add it to the other tools in my 'useless tool' collection just in case.as far as the screwdriver goes, I think I'll redo the wood scales and make it look spiffy and have it as a conversation piece in the shop. Of course since I'm the only one ever in my shop there shouldn't be too much conversation but I might get lucky and talk to myself one day, who knows . Edited July 17, 2015 by M Cochran Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Everything Mac Posted July 18, 2015 Share Posted July 18, 2015 We have loads of those types of screw driver over here. Common as mud really. They're quite nice to use too. Andy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John B Posted July 18, 2015 Share Posted July 18, 2015 Thomas,do you know whether those plumbing packing chisels were typically made from decent tool steel? If the shanks of the chisels are octagonal, then they should be tool steel Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SmoothBore Posted August 23, 2015 Share Posted August 23, 2015 Just a few years ago, I installed an even dozen "Daewoo" ( Korean ) CNC Turning Centers, ... that included that pattern Screw Driver, as part of the "Factory" Tool Kit. . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matthew D Posted September 18, 2015 Share Posted September 18, 2015 I have a screw driver just like that one, only not as long. My cousin found it in the wall of a house he was doing some remodeling on. LOL. I can just see it now. "Hey, I dropped my screwdriver down the wall." "Guess it will be there a long time, because we are NOT redoing that lath." Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charlotte Posted September 18, 2015 Share Posted September 18, 2015 Still have one that my father acquired when he bought his first car in 1936. He used it and I still do. tough has taken a beating and was perfect "back in the day" when autos and machinery was less "refined" Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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