All About Pocket Knives

TD, is that a copper tubing flaring tool?

Here's a pic of my dad's socket set. Dating back to the mid 1960s. Mom gave it to me after Dad passed in 2014. I have been using this socket set for nearly 60 years. I repainted the box a year or so ago (I might have posted pictures here), and one of the guys from "Garage Journal" that collects Thorsen tools identified the model number and sent me a copy of the label that goes inside the top. I remember it having the label for many years until it fell out. I finally got a new printer and bought some card stock and got the label printed. Anyway, here it is stripped, primered, re-painted, and with new cork in the bottom and the label on top.

Unk wrote: ↑Mon Sep 15, 2025 2:55 am TD, is that a copper tubing flaring tool?

I think it for wire striping, Klein was well known for electrical/electrician related tools). I have a few copper tubing flaring tools and they are quite a bit different in construction.

Great socket set Unk! It shows that well-made, well-kept tools will last many generations! I collect Thorsen tools, mainly because I connect my Scandinavian heritage with the brand name.... ... I'm not sure that is the best reason to collect something ... ... but at least it is a reason.....

I bought a bunch of tools at an estate sale a few years ago and many of the tools were old stamped/marked R.R. tools. A lot were from the Southern Pacific line and some from other lines. I have been going through my tools and pulled this one out and noticed the markings I did a search and tried to find a R.R. to match it. The closet that came to it was The Buffalo and Susquehanna Railroad* (not an exact match) I was wondering if anyone might have any ideas as to the company initials stamped on it? Could just be a small company (mining?) with nothing to do with R.R.s....

*The Buffalo and Susquehanna Railroad was a railroad company that formerly operated in western and north central Pennsylvania and western New York. It was created in 1893 by the merger and consolidation of several smaller logging railroads. It operated independently until 1929, when a majority of its capital stock was purchased by the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad.

GSPTOPDOG wrote: ↑Mon Sep 15, 2025 6:53 pm I think it for wire striping, Klein was well known for electrical/electrician related tools).

It's an Electrical Wire Splicing Clamp .

Miller Bro's wrote: ↑Tue Sep 16, 2025 8:30 am

GSPTOPDOG wrote: ↑Mon Sep 15, 2025 6:53 pm I think it for wire striping, Klein was well known for electrical/electrician related tools).

It's an Electrical Wire Splicing Clamp .

thanks M.B.

Here's my dad's old craftsman set, although it's got a few different sockets in it. I don't know the age but I don't remember it not being around so I'm guessing 80 years old or better. Dad work in Evansville during THE war where they were building the P-47's he had a nice set of tools from that, my brother took them after dad passed. I kept grandpa's tools.

Found this today. Not really a tool but its cool and old. I'm planning on cleaning off any active rust, then clear coating the whole thing to preserve the paint as is. I want to line each space with a knife friendly material and get a piece of plexiglass to mount over the front. There's a piece at the top that looks like it hinges and would accept a thin piece of plexi. I think it'll make a great table top display.

Do you guys think the clear coat is a good idea? Any suggestions for that? Im planning on using Rust Oleum laquer.

Also not sure what material to line each slot with. I want to salvage and repurpose something. Leather is a no go, I'm thinking denim?

... Doing some more clean up on some COTs.....

I can't make out the location where this was made. There was a lot of rust on it to clean off and it just wore out the maker's mark...

Fullers Drop Forged England

Miller Bro's wrote: ↑Tue Oct 21, 2025 1:10 am Fullers Drop Forged England

THAT IS WHAT I THOUGHT!!! ... I COULD JUST MAKE OUT THE ...LAND so, I was pretty sure, but thanks for confirming that M.B.

Cleaning up a few of these today.....

GSPTOPDOG wrote: ↑Tue Oct 21, 2025 1:06 am I can't make out the location where this was made. There was a lot of rust on it to clean off and it just wore out the maker's mark...

Here you go, TD. All you ever wanted to know about Fuller tools. http://alloy-artifacts.org/fuller-tool-company.html

Based on that article, since your pliers are from England, it looks like your pliers would date to the 1950s.

I have a pair of Fuller Japan Linesman pliers, and a set of Fuller Wood chisels (also Japan). Mine are later - circa 1970-80s.

Unk wrote: ↑Wed Oct 22, 2025 3:30 pm

GSPTOPDOG wrote: ↑Tue Oct 21, 2025 1:06 am

Based on that article, since your pliers are from England, it looks like your pliers would date to the 1950s.

Thanks a lot Unk I enjoy reading and learning about old tools and especially axes....

After the cleanup and a little oil....

GSPTOPDOG wrote: ↑Tue Nov 18, 2025 1:36 am After the cleanup and a little oil....

It's amazing what a bit of shoulder grease & oil can do.

cudgee wrote: ↑Tue Nov 18, 2025 2:20 am

GSPTOPDOG wrote: ↑Tue Nov 18, 2025 1:36 am After the cleanup and a little oil....

It's amazing what a bit of shoulder grease & oil can do.

Cheers mate I feel good when I can breathe a little life back into 'em.....

I have been collecting old files and especially ones with unique stamps and marker's marks and also foreign made files (NOT CHINA!!!).

I WONDER IF this Heller file was used by the military as it is stamped "ARMORY" ... Maybe law enforcement?

GSPTOPDOG wrote: ↑Mon Nov 24, 2025 11:20 pm I have been collecting old files and especially ones with unique stamps and marker's marks and also foreign made files (NOT CHINA!!!).

I WONDER IF this Heller file was used by the military as it is stamped "ARMORY" ... Maybe law enforcement?

Someone will know.

cudgee wrote: ↑Mon Nov 24, 2025 11:31 pm

GSPTOPDOG wrote: ↑Mon Nov 24, 2025 11:20 pm I WONDER IF this Heller file was used by the military as it is stamped "ARMORY" ... Maybe law enforcement?

Someone will know.

I was hoping YOU might have the John Dory on that one for me mate...

GSPTOPDOG wrote: ↑Mon Nov 24, 2025 11:38 pm

cudgee wrote: ↑Mon Nov 24, 2025 11:31 pm

GSPTOPDOG wrote: ↑Mon Nov 24, 2025 11:20 pm I WONDER IF this Heller file was used by the military as it is stamped "ARMORY" ... Maybe law enforcement?

Someone will know.

I was hoping YOU might have the John Dory on that one for me mate...

Nah, haven't got the daily mail on that.

cudgee wrote: ↑Tue Nov 25, 2025 2:37 am

GSPTOPDOG wrote: ↑Mon Nov 24, 2025 11:38 pm

cudgee wrote: ↑Mon Nov 24, 2025 11:31 pm

Nah, haven't got the daily mail on that.

.... Dohhh!!!!... Looks like I'll have to tune into the bush telly for some more info.....

Not mine, but at a local auction. I've seen a smaller tool like this used on survival shows to build a fire. I'm guessing this is used to bore a hole into something, but what. BTW I know the other item is a hatchet. If you added a metal point to the end it might be an ice fishing auger?

I believe it is called a pump drill and used either to bore a hole or start a fire.


https://makezine.com/article/workshop/t ... ump-drill/

Mom passed back in November. My sisters and I are going through Mom and Dad's estate. Of course, being the tool guy I am, I have been going through the garage. I found my dad's old fencing tool. I haven't seen it since the early 90s probably - didn't even know he still had it. I remember this hanging out of his back pocket when we built a fence around our place (12 acres) in the summer of 1971. And we used it for fence repairs for the next 20 years or so until they moved back into town.

Unk wrote: ↑Mon Mar 30, 2026 2:55 am Mom passed back in November. My sisters and I are going through Mom and Dad's estate. Of course, being the tool guy I am, I have been going through the garage. I found my dad's old fencing tool. I haven't seen it since the early 90s probably - didn't even know he still had it. I remember this hanging out of his back pocket when we built a fence around our place (12 acres) in the summer of 1971. And we used it for fence repairs for the next 20 years or so until they moved back into town.