Debarking tool with a wooden handle

Source catalog description

This description refers to material held by Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture. Visual details below describe the original material.

A debarking tool, or scratcher, with a wooden handle. The handle is long and has a rounded shaft. At the end of the handle is a metal stirrup shaped attachment. The attachment has a wide cutting edge. The shank of the attachment is embedded in the back of the handle and held in place with a bolt and wingnut at the top and a piece of twisted metal wire over a small wooden splint. A piece of faded fabric wraps around the bottom of the shank. The bottom of the shank curves outwards and protrudes from the handle. The handle has three drilled holes along its length.

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