Can you identify this hand tool?

[Robigus]

A friend found this when they were clearing out an old shed.
Either due to abuse or design the teeth are not set, (but they could have been when new?)
The steel is rigid and not designed to flex.

Does anyone recognise it or know what it is for.

Thanks.

 

[Guiggs]

No idea really but the teeth look a lot like that of a modern day pruning saw

 

[Spuddler]

Looks like it's made to cut when drawn backwards,Some sort of tree pruner?

 

[Flat 10]

I've seen similar asparagus knives, I would be fairly certain this is what that is.....

 

[Spuddler]

No idea really but the teeth look a lot like that of a modern day pruning saw

You beat me to it!

 

[organicguy]

No idea really but the teeth look a lot like that of a modern day pruning saw

Looks like it's made to cut when drawn backwards,Some sort of tree pruner?

A relatively modern,50 years old may be, pruning saw we have has teeth leaning much steeper, so only cuts as you pull towards you, so when pruning off a ladder you pull yourself into the tree.
I like the asparagus knife.

 

[Flat 10]

Thinking about it I reckon the cutting edge on asparagus knife was angled the other way.......

 

[Paddington]

Hedging perhaps, where you need to cut inside a hedge but not the outside ?

 

[colhonk]

Obviously no good,that was why it was out of the way at the back of the shed

 

[Robigus]

I've seen similar asparagus knives, I would be fairly certain this is what that is.....

I reckon you've nailed it
Knowing the dear old boy it belonged to and the size of the asparagus bed he had I'm sure you are right.
It's all wrong for a pruning saw, it cuts on the push stroke and what advantage would there be in not having a full length blade?

 

[milkloss]

Looks like it's made to cut when drawn backwards,Some sort of tree pruner?

Looks more of a push cut saw to me. The leading edge of the blades face away from the handle.

 

[Flat 10]

I reckon you've nailed it
Knowing the dear old boy it belonged to and the size of the asparagus bed he had I'm sure you are right.
It's all wrong for a pruning saw, it cuts on the push stroke and what advantage would there be in not having a full length blade?

Happy to have been of service

 

[Exfarmer]

No way is that for asparagus!

 

[Flat 10]

No way is that for asparagus!

Why? Seen something similar used. But as said I think the cutting edge was inclined slightly the other way so you pushed not pulled

 

[Robigus]

No way is that for asparagus!

It is. You push it in at ground level, that is why it has a short unset blade that cuts on the push stroke.

 

[Robigus]

A modern version.

 

[Old Boar]

It is a cultro inspicere. Used for seperating men from the ministry from their clipboards in times past.

 

[Gong Farmer]

Is it for castrating bulls when they're not looking?

 

[Danllan]

Is it for castrating bulls when they're not looking?

Why limit it to bulls? Could be for anything, if they're not looking... .

 

[Cab-over Pete]

A modern version. View attachment 600636

Could it be for cutting rhubarb?

I seem to remember seeing something similar on a place that grew rhubarb near here. With rhubarb being quite soft the teeth wouldn’t need setting.

I go to a farm that grows a lot of asparagus and their knives are like a flat steel about 18 inches long and 2 inches wide with just the very tip sharpened.