Went to an estate sale today that had advertised "old tools." Lots of 
guys showed up, but it was a bust. Lots of old rusty crap, but few 
actual tools. I guess it is because I don't own anything that can't be 
put to immediate use that I am amazed that people can own so much crap 
that could never be used.

I found a 4 oz ball peen hammer head that intrigues me.  It is marked 
like this:

Superior Cast Steel
         STILETTO
        Warranted

Anybody?

I like old hammers so I bought it for a buck. I also got a Perfect 
Handle screwdriver with good wood on it, and a nice octagon boxwood 
handled German 1/8" # 11 sweep gouge marked "Behar".

Best find was a very green but fancy 18" diameter antique copper 
bowl/tray(?)  Gotta keep making points with SWMBO. I always try to find 
at least one thing to bring her. Good social lubrication.

Total expenditure= $5.

Jim Thompson, the old millrat in Riverside, CA

Looks like they're a California company started during the Gold Rush in
1849. Still in business, making steel and titanium hammers. They may
have a contact there that can provide more historical info....

http://www.stilettotools.com/

 - Bob

On Fri, 2004-12-03 at 11:08 -0800, Jim Thompson wrote:
> Went to an estate sale today that had advertised "old tools." Lots of 
> guys showed up, but it was a bust. Lots of old rusty crap, but few 
> actual tools. I guess it is because I don't own anything that can't be 
> put to immediate use that I am amazed that people can own so much crap 
> that could never be used.
> 
> I found a 4 oz ball peen hammer head that intrigues me.  It is marked 
> like this:
> 
> Superior Cast Steel
>          STILETTO
>         Warranted
> 
> Anybody?
> 
> I like old hammers so I bought it for a buck. I also got a Perfect 
> Handle screwdriver with good wood on it, and a nice octagon boxwood 
> handled German 1/8" # 11 sweep gouge marked "Behar".
> 
> Best find was a very green but fancy 18" diameter antique copper 
> bowl/tray(?)  Gotta keep making points with SWMBO. I always try to find 
> at least one thing to bring her. Good social lubrication.
> 
> Total expenditure= $5.
> 
> Jim Thompson, the old millrat in Riverside, CA
> 
> 
> Archive: http://www.frontier.iarc.uaf.edu/~cswingle/archive/
> To unsubscribe or change options, use the web interface:
>     http://galoots.law.cornell.edu:81/read/?forum=oldtools
> 
> 
> 
> 

On 3 Dec 2004 at 11:08, Jim Thompson wrote:

> I found a 4 oz ball peen hammer head that intrigues me.  It is marked 
> like this:
> 
> Superior Cast Steel
>          STILETTO
>         Warranted
> 
> Anybody?

The company name is still around (www.stilettotools.com) but now makes mostly 
titanium hammers. Same old logo. The company itself goes back to 1849, and 
there are a reasonable number of Stiletto collectors around, mostly here in 
California. They used to make much more than hammers - I have a few Stiletto 
auger bits, for example. 

-Ken

Ken Greenberg (ken@c...)
667 Brush Creek Rd., Santa Rosa, CA 95404
http://www.calast.com/personal/ken/wood.htm
Visit the oldtools book list at http://www.calast.com/personal/ken/booklist.htm

And if I recall correctly from the Tool Crib catalog, Stilletto Hammers are
in the 200.00 price range. Pretty steep for a user new tool in my opinion.

Brian McInturff
philatelist@e...

> [Original Message]
> From: Ken Greenberg <ken@c...>
> To: oldtools <oldtools@c...>
> Date: 12/3/2004 2:51:38 PM
> Subject: Re: [oldtools] Today's meager finds
>
> On 3 Dec 2004 at 11:08, Jim Thompson wrote:
>
> > I found a 4 oz ball peen hammer head that intrigues me.  It is marked 
> > like this:
> > 
> > Superior Cast Steel
> >          STILETTO
> >         Warranted
> > 
> > Anybody?
>
> The company name is still around (www.stilettotools.com) but now makes
mostly 
> titanium hammers. Same old logo. The company itself goes back to 1849,
and 
> there are a reasonable number of Stiletto collectors around, mostly here
in 
> California. They used to make much more than hammers - I have a few
Stiletto 
> auger bits, for example. 
>
> -Ken
>
>
> Ken Greenberg (ken@c...)
> 667 Brush Creek Rd., Santa Rosa, CA 95404
> http://www.calast.com/personal/ken/wood.htm
> Visit the oldtools book list at
http://www.calast.com/personal/ken/booklist.htm
>
>
>
>
>
> Archive: http://www.frontier.iarc.uaf.edu/~cswingle/archive/
> To unsubscribe or change options, use the web interface:
>     http://galoots.law.cornell.edu:81/read/?forum=oldtools

I always loved Stilletto tools.
 They were a hardware dealer as far as I know,  but like HS&B ordered 
top of the line goods most times.  I've got a pair of loooong socket 
gouges with their name. (back Tom, back, don't you make me get out the 
whip and chair!)
  I was amused looking at the site of the new Stilletto stuff. Lots of 
titanium hammers everybody needs at  1or 200 bucks a pop. But they were 
advertizing full sized handsaws with black walnut handles?? Pix coming 
soon it said.
 Also it's pretty easy to see that the current owner has a son involved 
(lazer branded Stilletto sketeboard decks!) and probably plays the blues 
as well (new recording by the legendary "Moody Scott").
  Of course maybe the owner is an old skinned knee kid from way back. 
Can't be many skinned knee kids here on the porch?? (and quiet Gary, you 
'n me don't count! 8^D  
   yours, Scott
********** Scott Grandstaff, Box 409, Happy Camp, CA 96039 ********* 
Tools:http://users.snowcrest.net/kitty/scott/scotts/tools/tools.html 
PageWorks:http://www.snowcrest.net/kitty/hpages/

On 3 Dec 2004 at 12:10, scott grandstaff wrote:

> I always loved Stilletto tools.
>  They were a hardware dealer as far as I know,  but like HS&B ordered 
> top of the line goods most times.  I've got a pair of loooong socket 
> gouges with their name. (back Tom, back, don't you make me get out the 
> whip and chair!)

A search of the archive indicates it was the Pacific Hardware and Steel Co. of 
San Francisco, a name I can't get to stick around in my head for some reason 
(along with a lot of other stuff of course). This comes up from time to time, 
whenever someone on the list finds one of these things. I briefly had a 
stiletto brand grinder until I found it a new home with one of the local 
galoots. The identifying thread was about a plane (probably Stanley-made) 
marked as Stiletto. These things turn up occasionally at PAST swap meets. When 
they do, someone runs over to one of the collectors who swoops down and grabs 
it off the tables, so you have to look fast.

-Ken

Ken Greenberg (ken@c...)
667 Brush Creek Rd., Santa Rosa, CA 95404
http://www.calast.com/personal/ken/wood.htm
Visit the oldtools book list at http://www.calast.com/personal/ken/booklist.htm

Jim,
I have this plane, found at a local market...the famous Sunday "Camberwell
Market" here in Melbourne for a few AU$s
http://www.petermcbride.com/stiletto/
This one looks like a twin to the Siegley made by Stanley.
Here is a picture of my #2 size Siegley
http://www.petermcbride.com/collection/siegley2a.jpg

Regards,
Peter
In Melbourne, Australia where a clean-up in the workshop is the job today, so I
can get to the tools tomorrow.

Jim asks...
<<Superior Cast Steel
         STILETTO
        Warranted
Anybody?>>

Jim/GG's,

I have a 1" bevel edge paring chisel marked Stiletto. It's the first one I 
reach for. Has held an edge forever it seems.

Al Perreault
Wachusett Galoot
Westminster, MA

> Went to an estate sale today I found a 4 oz ball peen hammer head that 
> intrigues me.  It is marked like this:
>
> Superior Cast Steel
>         STILETTO
>        Warranted
>
> Jim Thompson, the old millrat in Riverside, CA
>

funny thing.  i had a chiro appointment friday afternoon, and stopped 
by the usual used tool seller (very little galootish, though some beat 
up old tools do sit there, and i got a stanley 152 spokeshave once) on 
the way home.  he had a couple of chisels, a buck "100" with the yellow 
plastic handle, 1/4", in ok shape, and a handleless 
"j....et/eskilstuna/sweden" 3/4" paring chisel.  i turned it over and 
on the bottom, near the socket, was stamped "stiletto".  it's being 
derusted today, and i'll see how it sharpens up tonight.

best,
bill
felton, ca

On Dec 3, 2004, at 3:56 PM, Alan Perreault wrote:
> I have a 1" bevel edge paring chisel marked Stiletto. It's the first 
> one I reach for. Has held an edge forever it seems.

after jim had writ:

>> Went to an estate sale today I found a 4 oz ball peen hammer head 
>> that intrigues me.  It is marked like this:
>>
>> Superior Cast Steel
>>         STILETTO
>>        Warranted

On 6 Dec 2004 at 9:01, Bill Kasper wrote:

> "j....et/eskilstuna/sweden" 3/4" paring chisel.  i turned it over and 
> on the bottom, near the socket, was stamped "stiletto".  it's being 
> derusted today, and i'll see how it sharpens up tonight.

Almost certainly that's Jernbolaget, a pretty well-knows Eskilstuna maker.

-Ken

Ken Greenberg (ken@c...)
667 Brush Creek Rd., Santa Rosa, CA 95404
http://www.calast.com/personal/ken/wood.htm
Visit the oldtools book list at http://www.calast.com/personal/ken/booklist.htm

If my Norwegian wife taught me well, that means 'iron' and 'factory'.
Jern is pretty obvious, but the 'aktibolaget' is not going to be
familiar to Americans.

She wrote this morning that Bolag means factory, so we have the 'iron 
factory'.

Mike

Ken Greenberg wrote:
 > On 6 Dec 2004 at 9:01, Bill Kasper wrote:
 >
 >
 >
 >>"j....et/eskilstuna/sweden" 3/4" paring chisel.  i turned it over and
 >>on the bottom, near the socket, was stamped "stiletto".  it's being
 >>derusted today, and i'll see how it sharpens up tonight.
 >
 >
 > Almost certainly that's Jernbolaget, a pretty well-knows Eskilstuna 
maker.
 >
 > -Ken
 >
 >
 > Ken Greenberg (ken@c...)
 > 667 Brush Creek Rd., Santa Rosa, CA 95404
 > http://www.calast.com/personal/ken/wood.htm
 > Visit the oldtools book list at 
http://www.calast.com/personal/ken/booklist.htm
 >
 >
 >
 >
 >
 > Archive: http://www.frontier.iarc.uaf.edu/~cswingle/archive/
 > To unsubscribe or change options, use the web interface:
 >     http://galoots.law.cornell.edu:81/read/?forum=oldtools
 >
 >