Christian Gagneraud  wrote:
> 
> It is a left turn bit!
> 
> I remember reading an online pdf about brace and auger bit history, it
> had a map of Europe showing the origin of different tang shapes. But i
> can't find it anymore, spent an hour googling, and finally gave up.
> And AFAIR, there was a section about left turning bits, saying these
> are old bits from continental Europe.
> 
> Anyone would have more information?
>--------------------------------

Chris:

Could the twist be the remains of a left-hand screw thread, used for screwing on
another piece? The idea in my mind is that it might be the handle segment of a
wooden pipe auger, maybe ten feet long overall but made in segments so that it
could be broken down for easy carrying from farm to farm. Either George Sturt or
Walter Rose has a chapter on making wooden well pumps, which involved long pipe
augurs. If the segments connected with left-hand screws but the cutting end was
right-hand it would tighten in use; if everything was right-hand, it wouldd come
apart in use, potentially leaving the cutting end stuck in the log.
Tom ConroyBerkeley