[TheForge] Neat Folding Fariers tool on Ebay

[xlch58 at swbell.net]

Figured it might be.  Hard to get a scale from the photo.   Obviously 
was a pick, but looked larger than the ones that I carried ( actually 
when I was astride a horse almost daily I carried a sailors knife, and 
used the marlin spike for cleaning hoves, I also reground the smaller 
blade on it to serve as a leather punch)    I expect it is sized for 
draft animals or I have the scale wrong. I noted this one because I am 
always curious about early-- particularily hand forged-- compact or 
multi purpose tools.   Somewhere I have photos of a more common multi 
tool that had a horseshoe shaped handle and a whole series of blades 
mounted where a crossbar would be.   They had a crude cam shape such 
that a single tool could be turned out for use and the ends tightened to 
hold it there.  Had seen versions with many different mixes of tools, 
but typically they had a least a turnscrew, corkscrew, auger and hoof 
pick among other things.     I also have bought several vintage wooden 
handled multi tools with bits in the handles that have a leather sewing 
awl among other things.  I just used one a few minutes a to sew the 
handle back on my leather traveling bag as I am off to Indianapolis in a 
few hours.  I had ripped the handl loose in San Diego last week.   Every 
three years I reattach a handle,  one more and I will have re-sewed them 
all.   To Philp's comment, at the end of the day, very few of these 
multi tools are really practical -- too may compromises.   The hammer on 
the combo tool in question looks like it would be a pain, balance wrong, 
hook in the way and probably trying to close on you while you use it, 
just like todays folding jack handle/lug wrench.  Neat idea until put to 
use at night in the dark by the roadside, but if space and weight reign 
supreme, it may be worth it to you.   To each his own.  I know here in 
Texas I run across examples of an old Spanish  hoof trimming tool that 
scare me, the Buteris I think it is called.  Basically looks like a 
short crutch with a blade on the end of it that I guess you put your 
shoulder into to trim a hoof.    I have enough trouble with a pair of 
nippers and a docile gelding, can't imagine trying to use one of those.

Charles

Walter Mullett wrote:

>This looks like it's probably a snow knocker.  They were used to clean the
>horses feet of snow and ice.
>
>I never had a need for one because the ice was coming off as fast as the
>horse picked it up.  I know because it was hitting me in the face. That's
>the trouble with a sleigh.  The dash board is too low.
>
>BTW - do you suppose that the name "dash board" came about because it
>protected you from the mud and snow when a horse "dashed" off.    
>
>Walt 
>
>  
>