It looks to me as if a carver needed a gouge that he didn't have, so  
he modified one to suit. It's a nice job of modification, but it is  
now worth about a dollar. Altered tools generally have little if any  
value.

I personally would just have used 2 other tools rather than to cut up  
a good and valuable tool. It is a shame.

On Nov 9, 2008, at 7:25 PM, curt seeliger wrote:

> Can any of you come up with a plausible explanation for modifying a
> gouge in this way?
>
> http://www.goantiques.com/detail,addis-special-fish,451675.html
>
> My first take was to boggle at asking so much for a grievously damaged
> chisel, but following the 'view other images' link shows the edge is
> finished.
>
> Thanks,
> cur - whose sole memories of shop consist of burning cherry on the
> belt sander and making the teacher cry by nailing my gun rack
> together.
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