General discussion > Contemporary Accoutrements

Turnscrew?

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J.D.:
I am interested in making a few 18th century style wooden handled turnscrews for use in demonstrations. In looking through my books and on the web, I can't seem to find an clear illustration of what I am looking for. So, does anyone know where I can find a good illustration  of a proper, wood handled turnscrew?

I have a coupla forged pieces based on illustrations in various books, but I'm looking for something a little more representative of what a master gunsmith might use; Something more stylish than would be used in a back country shop.

Thanks and God bless,
J.D.

bigsky:
Check out this ebay seller.  He has horn-handled turnscrews in several styles that you might be able to get an idea from.

http://shop.ebay.com/merchant/henrys1974

Elnathan:
http://www.amazon.com/Tools-Working-Eighteenth-Century-Decorative-Publications/dp/0879350989/ref=wl_it_dp?ie=UTF8&coliid=IOAZRAJ727TYB&colid=10OERFA3SD0O1

I have scans from that that have a couple turnscrews in them - I'll try and upload them later this evening.

Mercer's Ancient Carpenters' Tools might have something. I haven't seen it myself, so I couldn't say for sure.

Elnathan:
Ok. here are some scans from Tools: Working Wood in Eighteenth-Century America featuring turnscrews.


Turnscrew in the center foreground. I suspect that this one is may be most typical of factory-made turnscrews in the period. The basic shape I believe to be the "London pattern" and it seems to have survived up until WWII, judging from some examples here:
http://www.oldtools.co.uk/tools/misc/screwdrivers/screwdrivers.pg1.php



Two craftsman-made turnscrews. I love the one made from the swordblade.



Not sure about this one. If you look right below the row of molding planes there is a tool pointing straight down that looks like a turnscrew. It might be a file, but I don't see any evidence of teeth and it also has more of a leaf-shape than files normally do. I am pretty sure the tool beneath the handle is a file.

18th century turnscrews are hard to find pictures of, for sure.

J.D.:
Thank you both for posting those links and very interesting photos.
I have never seen the barrel shaped, T handle turnscrew. The great thing about this forum is the opportunity to learn something new every day, and today is no exception.

I finally found a fairly good representation of what I thought I was looking for in the bottom photo on Blackley's web page.

http://www.blackleyandson.com/acatalog/Turnscrews.html

I may, however,  have to revise my idea of what an 18th century turnscrew looked like.  :o

I love the turnscrew made from the sword blade too. I may have to replicate that, just for grins.

Thanks and God bless,
J.D.

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