Interesting drawer joint detail

[Brad Schafer]

In cleaning out an old barn for demolition, I found a couple of drawers from what was described as an "antique barber's stand". Most of the thing was ruined, but the drawer detail here is something I've never seen anywhere else. These are not dowels; they are cut from the drawer front and sides. Surely these aren't hand-done ... but what tool was used? The "dowels" are very precisely spaced and cut.

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The rear (not shown) is the same - pegs cut into the drawer rear and receiving holes in the drawer side (but without the scallop detail that's on the front).

Anyone ever see anything like this before?

[Cary Falk]

I recall seeing a dovetail jog template that does that but I can't seem to locate it at the moment..

[Tom Leathem]

I believe that is called a Knapp joint after the inventor Charles Knapp. Sometimes referred to as a pin and scallop. It was the first machined dovetail type drawer joint and produced from around 1870 to 1900. By 1900, the machine version of the true dovetail joint was perfected and became more popular due to it's more traditional look. At that point, the Knapp machines were out of business. It's a good way to date a piece of antique furniture because it gives you a window of production, i.e. 1870 to 1900.

Tom

[M Toupin]

It's called a Knapp joint. Been around since about 1880.

http://www.thewoodworksinc.com/articles/pin_cresent_joint.php

There's a router template available IIRC to make a modern version.

Mike

Looks like Tom types faster than me :)

[Bob Hoffmann]

This is the way that I would do it without having one of the modern router jigs for it ....

I would use a drill press with a plug cutter for the pegs -- indexed so the spacing is right. The holes are also indexed -- with the same indexing that was used for the plug cutter. Then I would use a band saw for the curves on the side board to match after having a jig to mark the curves that would have dowels that fit in the holes that were drilled first ...

BTW, this is just thinking about the problem without any knowledge about how it was actually done ...

[Mark Bolton]

I have several pieces of furniture that were from my parents with Knapp joint drawers.

[Mark Bolton]

This is the way that I would do it without having one of the modern router jigs for it ....

I would use a drill press with a plug cutter for the pegs -- indexed so the spacing is right. The holes are also indexed -- with the same indexing that was used for the plug cutter. Then I would use a band saw for the curves on the side board to match after having a jig to mark the curves that would have dowels that fit in the holes that were drilled first ...

BTW, this is just thinking about the problem without any knowledge about how it was actually done ...

I'd say without some very serious templating (band sawing would be rough) itd be a tough go. The joints on the furniture I have are very clean and tight. This was one of the early types of industrualized drawer (speed) construction.

[Jamie Buxton]

Another name for it is pin and scallop.

Here's a template for making it. http://woodworker.com/small-crescent-joint-set-wbits-mssu-878-561.asp

[scott vroom]

Yep, it's a Knapp joint.....manufactured between ~1870 and ~1900. I have a family heirloom dresser that has Knapp joint drawer boxes.

Some interesting info on Knapp joints: http://www.antiquetrader.com/antiques/knapp_joint_solid_as_dovetail_joints

[Brad Schafer]

thx all for the info/links. this is a pretty joint (IMO); i'd like to try a couple at some point ... but the originals, not the router jig. part of the attraction is the very sharp cut line at the bottom of the half moon. trying to figure out now what kind of mechanism could make that cut. time to google ...

[Jamie Buxton]

thx all for the info/links. this is a pretty joint (IMO); i'd like to try a couple at some point ... but the originals, not the router jig. part of the attraction is the very sharp cut line at the bottom of the half moon. trying to figure out now what kind of mechanism could make that cut. time to google ...

The original method was machined. A router is not much different from the original.