Dexter Knife/Tool Question

[DMLEATH]

I am not sure what this was used for- any help would be appreciated!

[Mumbleypeg]

Cigar box tool. https://www.worthpoint.com/worthopedia/ ... -504114525

Ken

[DMLEATH]

Ken thanks for that info! This is not my tool but is from an older gentleman that asked me to find out what it was-

[Mumbleypeg]

You’re welcome. The question now is, how is it used? The little v-shaped notch especially intrigues me. I’m guessing the blade is used to slice or pry open the box lid, and maybe the “hammer head” is used to close the lid? Just guessing. But I can’t imagine a use for the notch. Maybe a cigar aficionado can enlighten me.

Ken

Edit: NM, I found it. “A multifunction tool used in cigar shops to open flat-top cigar boxes. The rounded knife blade is used to break the seal and crack open the box, the slit in the rounded blade can be used to pry out a nail and the hammer portion can be used to pound the nail back into the box, resealing it.”

[DMLEATH]

Very interesting-

[orvet]

I used similar tools for many years when I manage a small chain of cigar, pipe and cutlery stores.

Wooden cigar boxes and even the cardboard ones were usually held closed by a single tack and then often a band of paper or cellophane around the width of the box. It was a way of showing if the box had been previously opened and sometimes the seals might have tax information on them.
The blade is inserted under the lid of the box, slid lengthwise beneath the lid of the box breaking the seal. The tool is then twisted which opens the lid and leaves the tack in place sticking through the lid. The blade is then inserted under the tack and the lid is pressed back down pushing the tack up above the lid. That way you don't catch your finger on the tack while the box is open.

If the boxes are to be displayed open in a humidor for customers to select cigars from, the nick in the blade is used as a tack puller. If the box is to be closed and perhaps return to a customer's private locker, the hammer head is used to drive the tack back through the lid into the front wall of the box.

I have seen many simpler versions of such a tool, but that tool has all the necessary features and appears to have been well used.
A beautiful example with excellent patina!

[1967redrider]

Very cool. There's always the right tool for the job.

[Ridgegrass]

Putting in my 2 cents. Here are two cigar box knives. Unmarked rosewood one has a hammer that swings about 20 degrees on its pivot. The chromed steel one has double hammers. Levine's 3rd Edition mentions them on p.176. J.O'.

[catspa]

If the boxes are to be displayed open in a humidor for customers to select cigars from, the nick in the blade is used as a tack puller. If the box is to be closed and perhaps return to a customer's private locker, the hammer head is used to drive the tack back through the lid into the front wall of the box.

So Dale, I’m assuming that a customer who bought cigars from you in bulk could also rent the service of storing them in your temp/humidity controlled storage area until such time as they chose to retrieve them for smoking.

Not a smoker myself, just trying to have an accurate mental picture.

Parker

[orvet]

Correct Parker.
Our stores were a bit too small to have many lockers in the humidors, but several customers would buy a box of cigars, take enough with him/herself to last until their next visit.
We would label their box or boxes and put them on an upper shelf in the walk-in humidor.

The walk-in humidor is ceder lined room with ceder shelving to display cigars for single sales below and storage above. The room is temperature and humidity controlled to about 70° and 70% humidity.

One gentleman worked upstairs from us and was often in several times a day to get some of his cigars. It worked well for him, especially when we were busy, as he could bypass the checkout line.

For those who were wondering, yes we did have a number of lady cigar and pipe smokers who visited our shops. Also ladies who chewed tobacco and some who dipped snuff.

[catspa]

I see, interesting. Never met a lady cigar smoker.

Parker