What Is This??

[oldtools]

I think John is on to something, looks like a tool to expand end of soft pipes to fit the next pipe into it. A tapered expansion tool slip into soft pipe, pin expans it & rotate tool to round out.  looks like the contact area is discolored some from rubbing. Just bouncing ideas...

[Dave Arnett]

I have a couple guys insisting it's a fid, or gripfid, used on big nautical rope.

I know how to tie a few knots, and I have used a fid a time or two, but I still ain't convinced.

What say ye?

[rusty]

Hmm, a fid is a single piece, but,

Patersons nautical dictionary gives:

Wedge-fid. A fid in two parts, wedge-shaped

A different reference says a wedge-fid goes on the top of a topgallant mast...

neither gives an illustration....

[Dave Arnett]

I give up. Dangit!!

I've posted this **** thing on 5 forums, sent e-mails all over the country, even a few across the pond, and still can't come up with a definitive answer.

I do want to thank y'all for the help, though!

[Papaw]

Try - http://55tools.blogspot.com/

He puts up what's-its all the time and gets answers usually.

[Aunt Phil]

From the dimensions it's probably a buffer's grip for holding something like napkin rings as they are held against the wheel. 

Due to the lack of popularity of napkin rings today only smaller grips with a skightky different expander & retainer are marketed.

[anglesmith]

This is a wild guess that Aunt Phil's photo has promted! Its not an early/primitive knife makers vise/holder is it? The napkin holder doesn't need an extra ring, but the steel ring makes sense if you are wedging a knife blade to work on the tang or handle.
Graeme

[Branson]

These are jeweler's ring vises.  I've had one, bought new for the purpose, for 50 years or more.

[Dave Arnett]

These are jeweler's ring vises.  I've had one, bought new for the purpose, for 50 years or more.

At the smallest point, this thing is 3/4" or more across.

Can you post a pic of yours...beside a tape measure?

[Dave Arnett]

Try - http://55tools.blogspot.com/

He puts up what's-its all the time and gets answers usually.

Now there's another option!!

I've looked it over but can't figure out how to contact them. (I'm more than just a little bit computer ignorant)

[Papaw]

To submit photos, send them to the address in my profile, please include dimensions, any text on the item, and where it was found.

rhvp65@gmail.com

[Branson]

Can you post a pic of yours...beside a tape measure?

Afraid not -- it was packed in some tool box years ago, and that box has been in storage for the past 9 years.  But here's one on eBay:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Wooden-Jewelers-Ring-Clamp-Wood-Jewelry-Vise-Tool-Holder-Size-6-Hold-Rings-New-/170926266550?_trksid=p2047675.m1850&_trkparms=aid%3D222002%26algo%3DSIC.FIT%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D11%26meid%3D5497539355653242433%26pid%3D100011%26prg%3D1005%26rk%3D1%26sd%3D390353692207%26

There are at the moment three others on eBay, all more or less identical.  They're listed as "ring clamps."

[harborrat]

I've got an ancient timber framed home and the wood looks suspiciously like the pegs that are driven into the hand hewn beams that hold them together.  The holes are drilled and the pegs are driven in with a mallet or similar tool.  Could this be for aligning the holes in such beams or for expanding the opening of the holes?

[harborrat]

It isn't a fid, the end isn't sharp enough and fids don't need to be hammered with such force that necessitates a metal wedge. It's also not for expanding metal pipe as the wood shows no damage.  If it was hammered into pipe then the wood would show damage rings. 

It is definitely for woodworking.  If not for timber framing then maybe shipbuilding.  The metal wedge is there because it needs to be hammered with a fair amount of force, and the iron ring serves as a stop as well as retaining the whole thing together. 

Here is a link to a shop that turns pegs used for timber framing.  You can see in the picture that the pegs look like the one you have, but the ring stop toward the end is turned on the lathe in these.  I would bet that in the old days with the old original hand carved pegs, you may have to have one of these split style pegs with the metal wedge to expand the drilled hole in some cases. It would then make the insertion of the construction peg easier.  Here is a link to the page with the photo. 

http://www.pegs.us/products.htm

[Dave Arnett]

It isn't a fid, the end isn't sharp enough and fids don't need to be hammered with such force that necessitates a metal wedge. It's also not for expanding metal pipe as the wood shows no damage.  If it was hammered into pipe then the wood would show damage rings.

It is definitely for woodworking.  If not for timber framing then maybe shipbuilding.  The metal wedge is there because it needs to be hammered with a fair amount of force, and the iron ring serves as a stop as well as retaining the whole thing together. 

Here is a link to a shop that turns pegs used for timber framing.  You can see in the picture that the pegs look like the one you have, but the ring stop toward the end is turned on the lathe in these.  I would bet that in the old days with the old original hand carved pegs, you may have to have one of these split style pegs with the metal wedge to expand the drilled hole in some cases. It would then make the insertion of the construction peg easier.  Here is a link to the page with the photo. 

http://www.pegs.us/products.htm

Yeah, I've ruled out fids and metal work.

"Old timber framing".......I can see that. I believe I'll dig into that.

Thanks.