What kind of chisel is this and what is it used for??

[Keith Palmer]

A friend of a friend found this in his dad's shop and new that I am a woodworker so he gave it to me. It says "Swiss Made" on the handle and "5<--<-<-" on the blade. The blade width is 2 3/8" (60mm) and has a shallow curve to it.

What kind of chisel is it and what is it used for?? I can guess for carving slightly concave shapes?
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[Douglas Brummett]

Looks like a carver's gouge.

[mike holden]

It is a Pfeil carving gouge. Designed for lifesize sculpture.
Mike

[Bill Keehn]

Yep.. a Pfeil "Swiss Made" 60mm Heavy Duty #2 Sweep gouge, sold by Woodcraft. (or a #5 -- depends on the curve but hard to tell from the pic). I think the "Swiss Made" stamp indicates a custom version of the tool made for Woodcraft.

The one you have retails new for around $95, so it's a keeper. Hope you said thanks :)

[Casey Gooding]

Certainly a gouge. Very handy to have one of those around, even if you don't carve. They can be used to hog out material, sharpen pencils, shape wood, all kinds of things.

[Jim Koepke]

Remember, with gouges, you need two of each, one sharpened in cannel and one out cannel.

If the wife questions this, tell her, "everybody nows that."

jim

[Bob Glenn]

This is a very dangerous tool. You better just send it me for safe keeping.:D