Why So Few Strike-Through Chisels?

[Jim Koepke]

The "strike though" or Everlasting design has an odd balance, imo, for pairing and such. It is a chisel designed more for the craftsman working in the electrical, plumbing or other building trades.

There is another choice:

Crescent Chisel.jpg

The problem with these is they are no longer made.

My one Stanley Everlasting chisel only gets occasional use. My Crescent chisel even less.

One of the thoughts behind the Everlasting design is the handle will not need replacement due to cracking from being struck with a mallet or hammer.

For people installing hinges, plumbing and electrical components, this is a big advantage. The disadvantage of balance doesn't even come into the equation.

One big advantage of socket chisels, and tang chisels for some, is the ease of changing the handle on a moments notice. Only one of my chisels has had a handle slip off. A little rework on the socket handle interface seems to have put an end to this. Also the technique of picking them up has become habitual to prevent any catastrophe if one does slip.

Over a few years of trying different handle styles my favorites have a few things in common. They are very comfortable in my hands.

Five New Handles.jpg

The ring towards the base is advantageous when pairing to push against. The rounded egg or ball at the top is also comfortable pushing against with the palm. It also is easy on the palm when levering a little side to side.

Most of my bench chisels seldom get struck with heavy blows. There are other chisels with different handles for that kind of work. When they do get a bit of striking, it is easy to place the ring at the base of the handle between my pinky and ring finger for control and this also keeps the rest of my hand below the top even on the shorter handles.

This works fine for me. This design may not work for anyone else, but anyone is welcome to give it a try. One thing that others may consider that has not been done to mine is to flatten one side of the ring to keep the smaller chisels from rolling.

One big disadvantage for the Everlasting style is the inability to change handles if one so desires.

jtk