tool
Timber scribe
The timber scribe is used to mark trees to be felled by cutting a strip of
bark, also to indicate - when unloading a ship - the number of beams of a
raft (1). The timber scribe has a metal blade with a U-shaped end and a
wooden or horn handle of 10-15 cm. One side of the U is sharp (cf. clog
maker's scribe, beam scribe, rubber tapping knife). Some timber scribes
have a foldable blade and some sort of plate to protect the hand. See also
the hoof cleaning knife. [MOT] (1) JANSEN: 117.