Exactly what is a "Swedish pattern" chisel?

[Michael Ray Smith]

Sorry if this is a dumb question, but can someone educate me?

[Jim Matthews]

Steel that holds an edge for 24 hours a day, all Summer but is impossible to use for more than three hours in the Winter?

[Michael Ray Smith]

Thanks, Jim. I needed a laugh this morning.

[george wilson]

I would assume it is one of those rather small Eskilstuna(sp?) chisels. They have a short blade with a birch(only hardwood that grows up there,I think) handle.

[Bob Strawn]

in Veterinary medicine, (http://www.vetinst.com/product.php?productid=495&cat=46&page=1) they consider the Swedish Pattern Chisels to be longer heavier chisels. Just the thing for removing and chopping larger bones.

A lot of Swedish Pattern Tools, axes, hammers and the like, are quite respected in the log cabin making field. So I would venture a guess that Swedish Pattern may indicate sturdy. A lot of quality tools of various form are made in Sweden, so a chisel made in Sweden does not imply a Swedish Pattern Chisel.

George has seen a lot more chisels than I have, and I am just guessing, so without more data I would go with Georges assumption but remain open to the almost opposite possibility.

Bob

[Ray Gardiner]

Hi Michael,

I think Bob has nailed it... I've personally never heard of them before, but google has...

This is one from Bolton Surgical, it's a veterinary implement. http://www.boltons.co.uk

http://www.backsaw.net/pics/Misc/SwedishPatternChisel.jpg

I suspect it's probably not a lot of use for woodworking, but then again, you'd have all winter to polish the back... :)

Regards
Ray

[george wilson]

Those surgical stainless steel chisels are quite soft. They prefer a rough cut rather than a smooth one for bone surgery. I think it helps healing. I bought a brand new one off Ebay,and it was very soft.

[Jonathan McCullough]

No, they use stainless because high carbon steel rusts in in an autoclave.

[george wilson]

Stainless has nothing to do with how soft they are. 440 stainless is generally called"surgical stainless" and it can be hardened to 60 rockwell. It is correct that carbon steel rusts in a autoclave.

[Michael Ray Smith]

I found those pictures of surgical chisels, too. The similarity to the woodworking chisel I have is that both are tapered with the wide end at the cutting edge. I wonder if that's what "Swedish pattern" means. The tapering isn't nearly as severe in the woodworking chisel. In fact, I didn't notice it at all until I tried to sharpen it.