Show Us a Tool

[PedalUma]

@spokewrench. I took one head like on the right and squared the face. I removed the backside burrs. I honed it, finishing with buffing compound to strop it like a barber's razor. I then brass wire brushed and buffed it all rust free, smooth, gleaming silver, and painted it black, then added a California framing handle. It was perfect for oak kindling. It could shave hair off the back of your arm. Sometime I will tell of the sheep shearing shed in NZ, the giant tree, and the station owner who almost dislocated his shoulder.

 

[Old-tool-guy]

I did a dumb and amateurish blunder.

Not sure that qualifies as dumb. What were the guide tubes made of? I wouldn't think you could tighten the ties enough to crush the tube.

 

[spokewrench]

It could shave hair off the back of your arm.

Grandfather had a straight razor and a strop. He didn't use the tools in the photo to shave his arms.
Here's another hint. My uncle also had a straight razor and a strop, but he never had mules. About the time Grandfather retired, I saw one of my uncle's Poppin Johnnies set up in a way that obviated tools like the ones pictured.
One more hint. The railroad didn't come to this area until about 1875.