51/814/5

A swage is a top and bottom tool used by blacksmiths to work hot metal into shape, and swages are made in any form required. 1 of 12.
A swage is a top and bottom tool used by blacksmiths to work hot metal into shape, and swages are made in any form required. The bottom swage fits into a swage hole in the anvil and the top swage, held in a wire handle or shaft, is struck by a sledge hammer or hammer. Nothing is known of the origin of this swage, which is one of a set of twelve.

1 swage

MERL 'Catalogue index' card – 'Swages are top and bottom tools between which hot metal is worked into shape. The bottom swage fits into a swage hole in the anvil and the top swage, held in a wire handle or shaft, is struck by a sledge-hammer, or with a hammer for very light work. The metal is thus impressed into the shape of the swage. The swage may be made in any form that is required. Nowadays swages are made out of the lowest carbon tool steel. // Some of these swages have straight grooves, others are designed to produce points, knobs, or flat circular shapes. One has no indentation but slopes obliquely, this was probably used to shape the edges of tools. // The swages vary in height from 2.5 inches to 4.25 inches and their faces vary from .75 ins. by 1.25 ins. to 4 ins by 3.5 ins. // See also 51/107M – Blacksmith’s hammer.', No Lavinia Smith No. recorded.

Rippon, Miss Dorothy May Lyddon (Agent)