An Etymology Of Draw Knives aka Draw Shaves
What's the difference between a Draw Knife and a Draw Shave? Nothing more than regional and trade preferences. At least in the United States. I won't go into the Other Side Of The Pond. During the later part of the 20th century and nearly entirely during the 21st century we have lost all sight of the plethora of special purpose tools, each specific to a trade or use. For this post, I'll stick with Draw Knife for simplicity.
Here are sample pages from the C. E. Jennings & Co. and L.& I. J. .White Co., each representative of turn of the 19th to 20th century edge tool manufacturers. Here in the 21st. century, everything is a Draw Knife, regardless of form or blade. This post should clear up this woeful misattribution of titles for those of use pedantically inclined.
Warning! These period correct examples will further confuse you. Manufacturers made and titles tools according to the many regional and trade preferences, not necessarily according to any formal plan.
Box Scraper
To begin with, this is a BOX SCRAPER, not an Inshave or chair seat shave. Box scrapers were essential to commerce when wood crates had ink or paper labels. Crates were costly and needed to be reused. Thus, the Scraper, a tool to, er, scrape off the offending text or label.
Carpenter's Drawing Knives.
Sharpened, Razor, Unsharpened
Wagon Maker's and Coach Maker's Draw Knives
Patent Adjustable and Folding Handle Draw Knives
Carpenters, Carriage or Scroll, Coach Makers
The famous Wilkinson's Folding Handle Draw Knife
More Coach Maker's Draw Knives and Shingle Shaves.
Ever wonder how cedar shingles were made? With shingle shaves.
Cooper's Draw Knives, or Shaves
Heading Shaves, Stave Shaves, Backing Shaves
More Cooper's Draw Knives
Hollow Shaves, Shaveup Shaves, Hoop Shaves, Paring Shaves
Yet More Cooper's Draw Knifes
Chamfer Knives, Right and Left. Beer Keg Chamfer Knife
Note the spelling of Champer rather than Chamfer. Who knows?
Cooper's Spoke Shaves, Inshaves and just for fun, Froes
Double Iron, Cleveland Pattern, Keg, Inshave and Froe
