Made from a very sold piece of Sperm Whale lower jaw bone, this sailor made fid has a total length of 11 inches, tapering to a point from a width at the top of 1 ½ inches. It is dense and heavy, and has a sort of lemony color to it. I suspect that its owner dressed it in whale oil to make it separate the yarns in rope more easily. The top is decorated with three parallel bands that appear to be hand cut—not lathe cut. Traces of black pigment (soot in whale oil) remain in the grooves. There is good wear at the point from its use in splicing ropes and setting grommets. It is a nice example of what you like to see in old fids. Fine.
