Help required identifying this old Daniel Silcock tool

[desktopstu]

Ive struggled with adding photos so sorry about the Reddit link. What I have here is some sort of cleaver like tool. Its about 18" long, has a hanging hoop at one end. Blade metal goes right through the handle and is very heavy. Its peculiar as it has a blade on both sides and on the end and thats whats throwing me. Its marked up with the Daniel Silcock makers mark but search as I may I cannot find anything about it. So i have some to you, the experts. Thanks in advance.

Edited to add image:

https://www.reddit.com/r/whatisthisthing/comments/1sifty9/help_needed_identifying_this_daniel_silcock

 

[C_Claycomb]

There is no photo on that Redit link either.
You could use https://imgbb.com/ to host an image, direct from a phone camera.

 

[desktopstu]

The reddit post is awaiting moderator review sadly. I have tried Box but that doesnt want to share on this forum unfortunately. I will look into other ways of sharing the pics. Its a most unual item.

 

[desktopstu]

There is no photo on that Redit link either.
You could use https://imgbb.com/ to host an image, direct from a phone camera.

ive just made an account with ImgBB but every time i try to add photos from there this forum tells me it cannot show images from this source.

 

[desktopstu]

link to imgBB photo of the cleaver type tool in question.

 

[C_Claycomb]

Hello,
I am sorry you are having trouble.
You could have used imgbb without creating an account, at least, that is how I use it, without an account, just going straight to the Upload at the top of the page.

The link you show in post #5 has the necessary BBCode link at the bottom for it to display the image on this forum.
I have edited your original post so it shows your image of this curious tool.

 

[Pattree]

Dunno what it’s called but it looks like a very useful tool for grubbing out shrubs and small trees, hacking roots. Useful for ground clearance or fence posts.
I like it.

 

[C_Claycomb]

Silcock, Daniel (Edge tool manfr.). Residing at Dronfield, in 1871. Recorded in: Whites Sheffield & District Directory - 1871.

Silcock, Daniel (Edge tool manufacturer). Residing at Beech Works Sheffield Road :h.Rose Hill Cordwell Dronfield, in 1905. Recorded in: Whites Directory of Sheffield & Rotherham.

Very like some vintage "cleavers" posted on French sites, but they are not sharpened along the end.

 

[stonepark]

Hoof Trimmer for Trimming Horses/Donkey Hooves would be my best guess.

 

[C_Claycomb]

Hoof Trimmer for Trimming Horses/Donkey Hooves would be my best guess.

Do you mean a farrier tool, or something for removing the hooves prior to butchery? If a farrier's tool, how would such a large and clumsy tool be used for trimming a hoof?

 

[crosslandkelly]

Could be a short bark stripper.

 

[stonepark]

Do you mean a farrier tool, or something for removing the hooves prior to butchery? If a farrier's tool, how would such a large and clumsy tool be used for trimming a hoof?

 

[C_Claycomb]

Okay, thanks. That is an impressive tool, and somewhat the same shape. That video is from China. Was the same technique used in Britain?

I am also dubious about it being an entrenching tool, although I think it looks more like one than it does one of those of hoof trimmers.

 

[Toddy]

If it's a hoof trimmer, those were called buttress trimmers......might be more information on old army sites, look for farriers, perhaps cWW1 ? they used a lot of mules and donkeys as well as horses.

 

[Longstrider]

It reminds me of the spade I had back when I was payed to gas rabbits. Sharpened on all 3 sides that the handle didn't touch it was a formidable tool for clearing undergrowth and briars to expose the burrows before cutting a sod of earth-n-turf to plug the bury closed with. Mine though had a full-length spade handle on it, but it saved me from having to carry more than one tool for the job.
My boss on that job referred to it as the "North Bucks Fighting Spade"

 

[Nice65]

Sharpened on all 3 sides that the handle didn't touch it was a formidable tool for clearing undergrowth and briars

I can only imagine. "Medium weight cigarette paper versus North Bucks Fighting Spade...clean in two."

 

[FerlasDave]

I’d tend to agree with Longstrider. It looks like something used for cutting turf or sod to me. Sharpened along two edges for chopping and slicing into the turf and through any roots etc and big and flat for shovelling it about.