Pricking iron (6)

Pricking iron or chisel used by a stonemason.  It has a wide flat serrated blade or combpiece fitted into a long square shaft with chamferred corners.  The blade could slide out and be replaced.  The end of the chisel shows signs of frequent use as the edge is well worn and curved over.   Stone was worked using a range of tools including saws and chisels.  Stone mason's tools have changed very little over the centuries.  Finer shaping and detail was worked by striking chisels like this with a large wooden mallet.