Whatzit?

[Don_Papenburg]

According too Wm Fritz it is a butt gauge

[Compensation]

At first glance it looked like a foot pedal of some sort for an old manual table saw or something because the rounded part seemed like a rocker and the rest shaped like a foot. After reading the comments I am even more lost.

[Ljohnsaw]

Could it be used to lock the circular blade so you can file the teeth?  The long "blade" hooks a tooth (somehow) with foot pressure while you file away...  I'm talking the big 4' to 6' blades.

[Chuck White]

What about using it to gauge a blade while hammering.

Just to measure the amount hammered!

[Hilltop366]

How about for checking or adjusting the set in the teeth.

[Jeff]

How about for checking or adjusting the set in the teeth.

BINGO!

The hole is a finger hole, the middle plate in the center is akin to a spider gauge, you see the "feet" at the end of it that gives it a "set" distance when you put it against the saw plate. The end piece of metal is a file. You would put your finger in the hole to hole it against the circle saw plate, then rotate or "wave" the tool around the edge of the rim to dress the sides of your teeth so they were all exactly the same width off the plate. You would do this to both sides of the saw after you swaged, giving you a smooth cut.

[Ron Wenrich]

What's the purpose of the grooves? 

[Jeff]

Good Question. Looking at it, I can unequivocally say, No Clue. :D Actually, to me, it simply looks like they may have been there in the material they used to make it.

[Jeff]

Also, I just noticed, nothing there for scale. This thing is between 14" and 15" long.

[Southside]

Well if I would have had that info I could have given you the right answer in the beginning!!!

[Ljohnsaw]

How about for checking or adjusting the set in the teeth.

BINGO!

The hole is a finger hole, the middle plate in the center is akin to a spider gauge, you see the "feet" at the end of it that gives it a "set" distance when you put it against the saw plate. The end piece of metal is a file. You would put your finger in the hole to hole it against the circle saw plate, then rotate or "wave" the tool around the edge of the rim to dress the sides of your teeth so they were all exactly the same width off the plate. You would do this to both sides of the saw after you swaged, giving you a smooth cut.

And the little screw by the hole?  Fine adjustment to the amount of set?

[DeerMeadowFarm]

Well if I would have had that info I could have given you the right answer in the beginning!!!

No kidding! Please provide scale reference so us smart guys can answer these things quicker! ;)

[Peter Drouin]

Nice to see old tools like that, And when you see one you will know what it is.
I have been looking for that double fork thing we had a while ago at all the fairs and not seen it yet. :D :D :D :D

[Ron Wenrich]

I was thinking the grooves had something to do with putting a wire in there.  It's about the right size, I would think.  And the screw by the hole would be the place the wire's attached.  I don't know what you would use the wire for, other than it might be a gauge.

[Hilltop366]

Well if I would have had that info I could have given you the right answer in the beginning!!!

No kidding! Please provide scale reference so us smart guys can answer these things quicker! ;)