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Medieval / Ancient Bowyer tools?

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SimonUK:

--- Quote ---Surely picture four shows a draw knife being used?
--- End quote ---

I wondered that too. But the man seems to be making armour.

Dane:
It looks like some kind of crescent shaped blade in a straight handle? There is another on the ground in front of that little bench.

Dane

Heiner:
@ Mark: Yeah, that surely looks alot like a drawknife, doesn't it? But as said already, that man is burnishing/polishing an iron harness.


--- Quote from: mullet on August 22, 2007, 08:49:02 pm ---I gues for shining leather.
--- End quote ---

I concur, but we cannot be sure without knowing more about their methods of polishing at that time. But be it what it may, it definetly is not a drawknife :(.

bobnewboy:
I cant believe that none of you guys have mentioned the bowyer's float (or 'flote').  The way I had it explained to me was a piece of dense wood, with a handle on the back, with individual steel pieces set into it like the teeth of a very coarse brush.  It was sharpened by rubbing it on a flat stone, and then used as a sort of super dreadnought file.

The only online references I can find to the flote would be at:

http://www.barker.demon.co.uk/bowyers/public/arms.html
http://www.heraldsnet.org/saitou/parker/Jpglossf.htm#Float

[note: non-commercial links]

D. Tiller:
Jeesh! That would sure make planing out a bow a lot easier. Would like to see a detailed picture of one though so we can build one. Bet it would save a lot of time making the bows.

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