Striking Knife

Date1780-1800

MediumIron

DimensionsOverall: 5/8 × 7 5/16 × 1/8 in (1.6 × 18.6 × 0.3cm)

Credit LineMuseum Purchase

Object number1982-261

DescriptionStriking knife made from a tapering section of heavy sheet iron, with a scribing point at one end and a skew-edge knife at the other. The sides are decoratively filed.Label TextThe 18th c. equivalent of the modern carpenter’s pencil, the striking knife had a scribing point at one end and a scoring edge on the other. Markings and ruled lines cut directly into the woodwork were less apt to being rubbed off or washed away.