What is this tool (for) ?

Do any of our Nat Pres artisans know what this tool is or is for ?
I'm 99.9% certain it isn't railwayana but someone may recognise it.

I inherited it among my father's tools but it has been in the family for a long time I think.

The 'blade' of about five inches has parallel slots of diminishing width along the length of and this movable brass stop or clamp, the edges are blunt about 1/16th inch thick and the point narrowed to maybe half that.

It certainly isn't a knife or chisel though the narrowed point suggests it is inserted into something.
I did wonder of it has something to do with upholstery.

Grateful for any ideas.

Scott

 

Wire sizing gauge?

 

Those narrowing slots made me think of wire stripping.

And the business end looks a big like a broad flat screwdriver.

 

It is a saw set. This type went out in about 1960. The turnscrew end was pretty common, but I've never seen one with the sliding guard still in place.

 

Bryan, Mike

Thanks very much for the suggestions.
I had wondered about a wire connection, but it didn't seem to be a gauge as there is no calibration along either side and I'd have thought just as easy to strip wire with a plier or knife blade.

Ross

Thanks very much for that, I've just looked at similar on the net, must see if I can find some film of one being used.
I would imagine those guards are very easily lost in a workshop.

That does make sense as I also have some wooden planes and other things that I believe came from an old carpenter friend of my parents as long ago as the 1960s.

Thanks again.

Scott

 

Looks like a saw setting tool to me. I should imagine very few people sharpen and set saws these days because disposable saws are so cheap.


The more modern approach to setting is to use one of these