Mortise Gouge Chisel ?

[Mark Koury]

Some guy on eBay has 2 NOS Swan chisels that he calls “mortise gouge chisel.” (250454185619)

The picture does seem to show a gouge back on a mortise chisel shape.

OK, I’m lost! What are these used for? Is this just another gouge? Is there some mysterious way to cut a mortise using a chisel with a gouge back?

[Russ Massery]

Looks like a standard mortise chisel to me.

[Richard Francis]

Responsible seller - Liberty Tool and Hulls Cove who has found a lot of oldnew Swan recently.

[Jim Koepke]

Sometimes the fingers type things that may not be quite right.

This does not look like a heavy mortise chisel. It certainly does not look like a gouge.

To me, it looks like a light mortise chisel or a firmer chisel.

There is no rule book on what chisel gets what particular name. There are some conventional definitions that are mostly garnered from old catalogs.

A misprint in a catalog could cause a century of misnaming.

jim

[Frank Drew]

The picture could be a bit clearer, but the last one does seem to show an inside flute on the tool. So, if that's correct, a flat back inside flute chisel... I can't see how it's a mortise chisel. If I'm not imagining things and it does have that flute, and if the bevel is similarly curved across its width (I can't tell from the photos), then I guess it would be a firmer gouge.

[Mark Koury]

I had to ask.

I received a prompt reply from the seller. He noted the box said "Outside bevel Socket Firmer Gouges." So, I guess he did type the wrong thing.

Problem solved.

Thanks to all who replied.