Pig Sticker dimensions?

[Matt Radtke]

Those of you who have some pig sticker mortise chisels, could you measure them for me? I'd like to try making one or two, but I don't have one to measure.

The details I'm most interested in are blade thickness right at the handle and approximately what the taper is between the face and back trapezoid and what the taper is from the handle to the bevel.

Thanks in advance!

[Steve Branam]

My selection of pig-stickers in glorious high-def, with a 12" rule for scale, including one that needs to be re-handled, so you can see the tang.

http://lh5.ggpht.com/_6qAGOXP58V0/TH8IlZowk4I/AAAAAAAACDA/ZXdKvfUncoI/s800/img_0666.jpg

[Zach England]

Mine are exactly 12 inches. At the bottom is a socket mortise chisel for reference.

[Andrae Covington]

I have two of the Ray Iles, a 3/8" and a 1/4". The blades at the base of the flared bolster are about 3/4" (by 3/8" or 1/4" etc). The bolsters flare over a distance of about 1/2" to match the base of the oval wood handles. On the 3/8" this is an oval about 1-5/8" x 1-1/4". The 1/4" is smaller. At the top of the primary bevel the blades are about 1/2".

[Matt Radtke]

Excellent, thanks guys. Here's a drawing I put together real quick. These measurements look acurate for a 3/8" chisel?

[Andrae Covington]

Tools for Working Wood says "[t]he sides of the chisel form a slight trapezoid" on the Ray Iles. Slight being the operative word, mine are only about 1/64" narrower. I imagine some of the vintage chisels are more pronounced.

[Matt Radtke]

Sounds good. I'll reduce the trapezoid taper when I make them for real.