What the hell is this?

[openfire]

Im posting this here because it has to do with leather working tools, if this belongs in the "General" area, sorry about that.

Bought some antique leather working tools in an auction, when I opened it later on I found something weird.

It looks like a Nazi thing but the auction house said it was a Native symbol for "luck"

Anyone have any input?

[elkdump]

The symbol is a swastika , used by many , many different cultures over the last couple thousand years ,

That tool is of recent times ( last 100 years most likely )

[Hydro1]

The word*swastika*comes from the Sanskrit svastika, which*means*“good fortune” or “well-being." The motif (a hooked cross) appears to have first been*used*in Neolithic Eurasia, perhaps representing the movement of the sun through the sky. To this day it is a sacred symbol in Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, and Odinism.

[openfire]

Originally Posted by elkdump

The symbol is a swastika , used by many , many different cultures over the last couple thousand years ,

That tool is of recent times ( last 100 years most likely )

But has anyone heard of this as a native symbol?
There was also a pair of chaps with it pretty big on both legs

[Submoa_hunter]

In nazi culture, swastikas were displayed diaganoly (point facing down and point facing up) so this makes me believe it's not nazi related. But if it is a tool from the Labour force in Germany at the time I would consider it a score, it could be worth a bit of money.

[MK2750]

Originally Posted by openfire

But has anyone heard of this as a native symbol?
There was also a pair of chaps with it pretty big on both legs

Was watching Canadian Pickers and they found a set of chaps with the same symbol. It was apparently different than the Nazi one as mentioned above. They paid over $600 for each set of chaps as a group buy and it appeared they coveted the ones with symbol in particular.

[openfire]

Ok, Found this out.
It was the Logo of the "BUFFUM TOOL Co". from Louisiana Ma.

"This tool has the Swastika mark that was the Emblem of this United States Tool co. Before the 2 nd. world war. The Buffum tool co. stopped using this logo and went out off bussness shortly after the war started. Most tools were destroyed because of the emblem. The ones that remain are a little Rare."

Huh. Now we know.
If you google image search "BUFFUM TOOL Co Louisiana Ma" you will see a lot of these types of tools.

[deerguy]

Originally Posted by Submoa_hunter

In nazi culture, swastikas were displayed diaganoly (point facing down and point facing up) so this makes me believe it's not nazi related. But if it is a tool from the Labour force in Germany at the time I would consider it a score, it could be worth a bit of money.

This is false. Many times the NSDAP displayed the swastika as shown on the tool. European nations have also used the swastika for many years, in Ireland you can find Swastikas on the tombs Of the Phoenician explorers that founded the land.

[parfleche]

Peck Stow & Wilcox used this emblem on their small rat traps Also , It was called the good luck trap

[blackpowderrlw]

I may be wrong but I think the german version the arms were in the opposite direction and on an angle turned 45 degrees. lee