Giant Shears - What where they for?

[Rhyolith]

Spotted these ridiculously huge shears (size 10 foot for scale) at the Norwich Antiques fair a while back. They weird handles too, thought maybe they mounted to something? (which would probably be necessary as they were very heavy!).

Giant Shears by Rhyolith, on Flickr
Giant Shears by Rhyolith, on Flickr

There was this stamp on them, think its numbers... but its barely readable

Giant Shears by Rhyolith, on Flickr

Didn't buy them because of the price tag (cannot remember how much, but was too much!), but having seen the pictures still on my phone renewed my curiosity to what they were for.

Any ideas?

 

[Racers]

Brush making?

Pete

 

[AndyT]

That didn't take long!

Here it is in use.

 

[Alvan]

Definitely Brush making. My father used an item just like them.

Æ

 

[Honest John]

Toe nail cutting for people with very long legs. :lol:

 

[Rhyolith]

Toe nail cutting for people with very long legs. :lol:

And very large toe nails :lol:

Thanks Pete, Andy and Alvan. That was solved quickly! There was me trying to imagine them somehow mounted on a traction engine or something cutting hedges.

 

[TFrench]

Andy (toolsntat) had a couple of these at Rich arnold's open day this year, there was lots of interest in them!

 

[D_W]

Ladies with the last name Bobbitt.