Pelt scraper

1750-1825

Measurements

2 in x 6-3/4 in x 2-3/4

Materials

Iron and walnut

Credit Line

Historic Odessa Foundation, purchased with funds from the H. Rodney Sharp Endowment

Accession Number

1968.894

Comments

Purchased by Winterthur as a leather worker’s tool, this tool appears to be a pelt scraper.  It was used to scrape the flesh off small pelts (muskrat, beaver, woodchuck, otter, etc.), rather than larger hides, which were cleaned with much larger fleshing knives having broad, slightly curved blades.  This smaller tool has a sharp edge along the bottom of its curved blade.  The blade was wrought, bent to shape, and the two ends joined to become a single shank that passed through the wood handle.  The end of the shank is secured with a hexagonal washer or “rove” that is peened in place.