Need help dating Pexto chisel

[Skip Helms]

Hi Everybody,

I just got an NOS Pexto socket chisel on the Bay. It is dead mint -- never been honed -- the handle has never been pounded into the socket and there is still a little bubble of lacquer on the very end of the wood from when it was dipped into the vat. The edge is 7/8" with square sides. It's is pretty heavy and the steel is slightly curved so that it can lay almost flat on a workpiece.

I told my wife I thought it was probably around a hundred years old but that was a guess. I'm not really sure when PS&W began branding their chisels with the circled Pexto label. This is my fourth Pexto chisel of around this vintage and certainly the shiniest. I like them.

If anyone has an idea of the range of years these were made, I'd love to read your thoughts. Thanks, Skip

NOS Pexto.jpg

PS: I'm not a collector. This will be sharpened-up and used when needed. sh

[Mel Fulks]

Before it was Pexto it was Peck- Stowe. I've seen the date of name change but don't remember what it was. Think you can find it with Google. enjoy!

[Mike Brady]

I doubt that chisel is a hundred years old, but whether it was made in 1916 or 1936 is really immaterial. I have NOS Greenfield chisels that look just like that that I know were made in the 1960's in Rockford, IL. You have a nice chisel, but its not rare or anything. Use it where and how you wish. Personally I find firmer chisels to be of limited use. They are quite long and the blunt-sided blades don't seem applicable to my woodworking needs. The good news is that what you have there is better than any chisel made today that retails for less than $50., so if you paid less than that you are good.

See: http://progress-is-fine.blogspot.com...ow-wilcox.html

[David Carroll]

According to this:

http://alloy-artifacts.org/peck-stow...tml#trademarks

They started using that logo as early as 1915. Nice Chisel! I actually really like firmers, (except for dovetailing). Looks like you went back in time to get that one, whether its 1915 or 1945 or 1965, its very cool!

DC

[Skip Helms]

It looks like the consolidated name started in 1927. Most of the information on Pexto is for their metalworking line but I'll keep my ears open. sh