Curriers, or Leather-Dressers Tools.
9. We come now to the Currier, or Dresser of Tanned Leather, from which Profession arose the Proverb, I Will Curry your Hide, when one Threatned another to Beat him sufficiently, to his own Hearts Content.
Pin block
He beareth a Pin Block.
This is a Block set full of
Wooden Pins, about 2 or 3 inches high, upon which
they beat their Leather to make it pliable and gentle,
being rouled up.
Currier's paring knife
CXXVIII. He beareth a Whetting Steel,
between a pareing Knife and a Smoother.
That in
chief is termed a Curriers pareing or shaving
Knife; it is edged on both sides, streight and broader
in the Blade, than any of the Leather Workers beforementioned; the handles stand one contrary, or cross to
the other.
Currier's Steel
The second lying in Fess, is called a Curriers
Steel or Whetting Steel; it is round and set in a
Haft Hooped; with this they whet or sharpen their
Shaving Knife when it is dull; as the Butchers do their
Knives on their Steels.
Smoother
The third and last of this quarter, is termed a
Smoother, with which all their Leather is slickened,
as they call it, that is made bright and shining; it is all
of Iron with a round top or handle to hold it by, and a
flat smooth bottom, but not very broad.
Graining board
CXXIX. He beareth a Graining Board.
This is a Board with Nicks
in it after the manner of a Saw, if you look sidways
at it, but turn it up and you will perceive the Nicks,
Teeth or Riggets (call them which you will) run quite
a-thwart the Board; it hath a Leather fastned on the
top to put the hand through, thereby to hold it more
steady, and to work with it the more easie.
Graining board
The second Figure in this square is the foresaid
Graining Board turned up side down, which I caused to be set so, that you may see how the Teeth run
streight through it.
Bowyers Flote
Image from proof plateCXXX. In this square is the Bowyers Flote with the Teeth side outward, or to the right; and the Fletchers Cisars: Of the first I find the Flote thus made, and born by the Company of Bowyers in the City of Chester about the year 1579, and is the properest way of making it, that the Teeth or sharp Rigget thereof may be seen as they are.
Long scissors
Image from proof plateThe second is the long Cissars, with which the Feathers of the Arrows are cut streight and even.
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