What is this tool?

[Jon]

Not a leather punch. Good guess though.

[mklotz]

The long handle with what appears to be a calibration on it suggests to me a sampler of some sort that is inserted into the medium to be sampled a distance determined by the scale. The conical probe suggests a medium that must be penetrated in some way to obtain the sample. The brass wheel and rod may limit the depth of penetration of the probe or be used to eject a solid sample from the probe.

The spherical structure remains a mystery to me. If it's hollow it may store a gas or liquid sample. If it's solid it may provide weight to drive the probe into whatever is being sampled.

It's also possible that the scale is used to measure the solid sample after it's ejected from the probe.

Other than those observations, I'm at a loss.

[Philip Davies]

That would be my guess.

[Jon]

I need to find more difficult examples. This one is an "increment hammer", for taking core samples from trees. More: Haglöf Increment Hammer | Forestry Suppliers, Inc.

[PJs]

I need to find more difficult examples. This one is an "increment hammer", for taking core samples from trees. More: Haglöf Increment Hammer | Forestry Suppliers, Inc.

Good one Jon. I think so to keep Marv busy on it for at least 2 days. I did see the spring return on the plunger for ejecting the cores. Who would have thunk an inch deep sample would give that much info.

Please keep em coming Jon!

[mklotz]

The trick on these things is to explain every detail of the design. You can't say,

This feature does this and that feature does that but I don't have a clue what that hook on the end is for.

Once you can integrate every visible feature into your conclusion, you're on your way.


Oh, and it helps a lot to have lived a long time with a nearly eidetic memory. :-)

[Toolmaker51]

Don't know how a handled striking instrument would calibrate or deliver consistent impact, so anything like durometer is out.
I'll ante up the ball holds dye and the nozzle a needle valve. Depth regulated by the knurled nut...
Crude Low Resolution Tattooing?

[mklotz]

Don't know how a handled striking instrument would calibrate or deliver consistent impact, so anything like durometer is out.
I'll ante up the ball holds dye and the nozzle a needle valve. Depth regulated by the knurled nut...
Crude Low Resolution Tattooing?

It may be that the exact length of the sample may not be important. Say you only want to know the growth ring widths for the last two years. Any sample that's X units long is sure to include the last two years.

Also, now we now that the test medium is a solid, we know that the scale on the handle is not to measure immersion in some gas or liquid medium. That strengthens the case that it is used to measure the sample itself once obtained.

[PJs]

It may be that the exact length of the sample may not be important. Say you only want to know the growth ring widths for the last two years. Any sample that's X units long is sure to include the last two years.

Also, now we now that the test medium is a solid, we know that the scale on the handle is not to measure immersion in some gas or liquid medium. That strengthens the case that it is used to measure the sample itself once obtained.

According to the website the cutter is 1". I thought 1" per year was typical although growth rates vary. I kind of doubt the plunger is a depth stop as there would need to be a way to push out the core without having to remove the tip every time and use some other device to remove it. My hit is the ball on the head end is just weight based on the medium we now know by noting the SHCS on the handle just below the ball...probably to attach the weighted ball to the hollow handle (I'm assuming here).