Tool Talk

General Category => General Discussion => Topic started by: Northwoods on May 11, 2019, 10:15:53 AM

Title: H K Porter Pointcut Pruner
Post by: Northwoods on May 11, 2019, 10:15:53 AM

I love hitting the sales, looking for old steel.  And if I can find old steel and old hickory, that's even better.

Found one of these yesterday.  Mine is about 20" long.  Traded for it-- four used railroad spikes.  Really.  They came from the previous sale where I got 20 spikes for $2.00.  Really.

I guess H K Porter decided that if they could make bolt cutters, they could make pruners.  Evidently they were not a big success.

Can't find one on the bay and not much at all on the web.  Anyone know about them?  From the 20's--40's?


https://www.worthpoint.com/worthopedia/vintage-hkp-hk-porter-20-pointcut-1816612146 

Title: Re: H K Porter Pointcut Pruner
Post by: Bill Houghton on May 11, 2019, 10:33:19 AM

Looks like a serious tool - and for 40 cents, not a bad deal, either.

Title: Re: H K Porter Pointcut Pruner
Post by: Yadda on May 11, 2019, 02:58:34 PM

Great swap!

Title: Re: H K Porter Pointcut Pruner
Post by: international3414 on May 11, 2019, 03:25:07 PM

i have a pair very similar,w/rubber like grips,its 27" long & marked no. 2 forester boston 43 mass.

Title: Re: H K Porter Pointcut Pruner
Post by: Northwoods on May 11, 2019, 05:53:06 PM

I see mine listed in the 1939 catalogue from Everett, Mass.  $5.00
Don't know when it originated.

Title: Re: H K Porter Pointcut Pruner
Post by: Northwoods on May 13, 2019, 04:32:33 PM

To follow up, I have discovered, I believe why my Pointcut Pruner is rather rare.
I adjusted the fit of the blades and sharpened it, then gave it a try. It worked just fine, but it is only 20" long, is much heavier than other pruners that would have wooden handles and a much simpler blade arrangement, and, of course, it cost $5.00 in the depths of the Great Depression.  Likely it was not a big seller.
I suppose HKPorter assumed that a pruner should have a design similar to their bolt cutters.

Not so.

Title: Re: H K Porter Pointcut Pruner
Post by: coolford on May 13, 2019, 06:42:10 PM

I have one also, picked it up at a garage sale some years ago, it is larger than yours, being 27 inches long.  They cut fine due to the compound leverage.

Title: Re: H K Porter Pointcut Pruner
Post by: Northwoods on May 13, 2019, 10:28:31 PM

I might just keep mine as a user--even if it is not as efficient as my present one.  It is gismotic cool.

Title: Re: H K Porter Pointcut Pruner
Post by: Yadda on May 13, 2019, 10:34:32 PM

Quote from: Northwoods on May 13, 2019, 10:28:31 PM

It is gismotic cool.

+1