What is this for?

[Jmatt]

I was cleaning out a drawer this morning and came across this old pocket knife, which I'm thinking was my grandfather's.

For the life of me, I can't figure out what this blade is for. Does anyone know?

 

[manitou]

That is to scrape out a (smoking) pipe bowl. Lots of pocket knives had that blade back in the day.

 

[Jmatt]

Yep, that would about explain it. Also explains why I couldn't find a reference to it online. Thanks much Manitou!

 

[victor3ranger]

We always sharpened the end of those to use as a awl to punch holes in leather and heavy canvas.
Never thought about it being used for a pipe

 

[outdoorguyBP]

Pretty cool find!

 

[milestown]

My guess is the same a Victors.
A leather awl.

Hal

 

[Bud H]

I was cleaning out a drawer this morning and came across this old pocket knife, which I'm thinking was my grandfather's.

For the life of me, I can't figure out what this blade is for. Does anyone know?

I have it on some of my knives, it's a leather hole maker. A small slit, then this is turned in it, cutting out a hole. It needs to be very sharp to work properly. The taper is for different sizes of holes. I would sharpen the very end of mine to start the hole, works great for belts and harnes.

 

[Bud H]

That is to scrape out a (smoking) pipe bowl. Lots of pocket knives had that blade back in the day.

You may be right, that one doesn't look sharpened, my pipe scraper looks like a very small spoon and before I had that, I used whatever fit in it, including the regular knife blade...of course I had to sharpen it afterwards, but that was just part of the routine.

 

[Markga]

We always sharpened the end of those to use as a awl to punch holes in leather and heavy canvas.
Never thought about it being used for a pipe

That's what someone told me it was for when I was a kid and had a knife with that blade on it

 

[epoletna]

For punching holes in leather.

 

[manitou]

I have never seen one sharp enough to punch a hole in leather. They are generally flat on the end.

I have, however, watched old timers clean their pipes with them and was told that was what they were for. A lot of folding knives (called pocket knives back then) had that blade on them.

 

[baldhunter]

When I was a kid the campers knife were common to carry because it had the tool blades.The OP in question about the blade is,it's an awl.

 

[manitou]

When I was a kid the campers knife were common to carry because it had the tool blades.The OP in question about the blade is,it's an awl.
View attachment 535213

That is a different blade from the one the Op posted.

 

[baldhunter]

That is a different blade from the one the Op posted.

Different brands of knifes had awls shaped a little different.That 90 degree bend also helped in lifting the blade out.