Old Tool Inquiry

[keithb7]

Someone gave a a few crates of old tools and misc car parts.  What where these pinchers primarily designed for? Blacksmith hot work? Horse hoof trimmers or shoe nail pullers? Something else?  I’m just guessing. Is it worth keeping a small or medium sized pair for myself?

 

Thx. 

 

[plymouthcranbrook]

My Father had a match to the big one on the right on your set. He inherited it from His Father and he always just called it the Blacksmith tongs. If that helps.  It disappeared into the mists of time years ago.

[Dan Hiebert]

Those are a must have in a farrier's toolbox, but I don't know if they're specifically designed for horse shoeing or are a blacksmiths tool that just happens to fit the bill - keeping in mind one of the primary tasks of old timey blackies was shoeing horses.  The Amish communities around here would barter handsomely for a set of those.

Edited July 12, 2023 by Dan Hiebert

[kencombs]

Not the intended use, but if you do any carpentry work at all, pick a size that you like and keep it in the carpentry box.  They work great for pulling nails with small or damaged heads.  Pinch it with the handles vertical, squeeze tight and use the tools jaws as a fulcrum to extract the nail.   When claw hammers slip, this can work.

[desoto1939]

These are good conversation starters at a car show or farm show.  Put them out in front of your car and put a BIG ? mark on them and then see what people might tell you.

 

At least this might educate some kid that never saw these and never lived on a farm.  These are tools that most people never saw and or ever used.  I like to educate people and kids.

 

Rich Hartung

[Curt Lee]

I love old tools and hardware; simplicity and utility go hand in hand. I grew up as a yonker on my Great Grandfather's farm until my Dad bought an orchard we worked until I joined the Navy; I had access to all kinds of farm implements and such tools as were needed to repair and maintain them. My Granddad was the chief mechanic of the family; I spent many an hour quietly at his elbow watching him work. Work smart and you don't have to work HARD to get something done, was his lesson.