Osborne #144-43 Stitching Awl with 1-1/4" Diamond Shape Blade

This awl is perfect for the more difficult type of stiching I require for the leather projects I make. In particular it's perfect for precise butt joints and box joints. It's got a perfect handle, point and four well defined facets that create a sharp cutting edge. Very easy to bring it back to scary sharp with a fet swipes on the strop. Couldn't be happier!!

Well made tool for the job. I'm an amateur leathercrafter, but find it works well for me.

I got it in the hopes of copying it. It arrived largely sharp but with some dings from handling. I resharpened and honed and it was all good... I guess if it shipped with a little piece of aquarium tubing from the factory it wouldn't get dinged on the edges and retain its factory sharpness... I will make my own from now on anyway, but it is a nice awl and works well on soft leather and hard thick veg tan.

This tool is nicely made - smooth wood with varnish finish. The handle has a flat top striking surface. The blade is short enough to keep it stiff so some prying can be done without bending. A firm tap on the handle will penetrate 3 layers of 10 oz full grain, veg. tanned, leather. The hole made by this tool is more like a slit that is approximately 2.5mm by 1mm in shape. Position of the blade is important when punching holes for stitching. This is not an awl where position is not a factor. When making stitch holes in multiple layers of 10oz leather I have found the best tool to be a smooth nail with the head cut off and used as a drill in a drill press. This makes small round holes that stay open, are precisely positioned, are quick to make, and require almost no pressure. The Osborne stitching awl is great for small lacing projects or for stitching with thin leather.

I’ve been using an old Tandy stitching awl, which works just fine. I bought the Osborne awl on a whim. I’m really glad I did. This is an excellent awl. This is slimmer than the Tandy and I like the shape better. It is a diamond shape in cross section, as is the Tandy. It seems to slip into the leather easier. Keeping it honed and well strapped is still important, but I think I’m stropping the Osborne less. I really like my new awl.

On first use, awl bent on dampened 6-7 oz leather. Poor tempering of awl blade. Save your money and put it towards a premium awl.

Because I did my homework, I was expecting an awl that would need work before I could use it. In fact, this was the reason I picked this awl. I wanted to learn to sharpen and polish an awl and wanted one that I would not be too upset about destroying.After putting some time in I am pleased to say that I understand the principles enough to have a decent awl now. It slides into the old leather boot I have nicely without a lot of the drag that was evident in the beginning. Off to a very good start.The haft is the right shape and size to be able to push with the hollow of my palm with little effort.The blade is long enough for what I am going to expect to use it for at this time.I will most likely buy another of these again, although I expect to upgrade in the future.

Nicely made simple SHARP stitching awl. Just what I was looking for.