this post was submitted on 30 Apr 2024
640 points (94.2% liked)

Science Memes

11243 readers
3178 users here now

Welcome to c/science_memes @ Mander.xyz!

A place for majestic STEMLORD peacocking, as well as memes about the realities of working in a lab.



Rules

  1. Don't throw mud. Behave like an intellectual and remember the human.
  2. Keep it rooted (on topic).
  3. No spam.
  4. Infographics welcome, get schooled.

This is a science community. We use the Dawkins definition of meme.



Research Committee

Other Mander Communities

Science and Research

Biology and Life Sciences

Physical Sciences

Humanities and Social Sciences

Practical and Applied Sciences

Memes

Miscellaneous

founded 2 years ago
MODERATORS
640
submitted 7 months ago* (last edited 7 months ago) by fossilesque@mander.xyz to c/science_memes@mander.xyz
 
you are viewing a single comment's thread
view the rest of the comments
[–] Catoblepas@lemmy.blahaj.zone 94 points 7 months ago (3 children)

The best suggested explanation IMO is that it’s a way for blacksmiths to demonstrate their skill.

“lol stupid scientists don’t know what knitting is” I would file under “actively anti-intellectual”.

[–] Tar_alcaran@sh.itjust.works 19 points 7 months ago (1 children)

Kinda like the little nib on top of old saw blades. It doesn't really do anything, but if they can make that complex little nib, then they can probably make pretty decent sawblades too.

[–] Poppenlockenheimmer@lemm.ee 8 points 7 months ago (1 children)

I've always heard that the nib was meant to help you gauge when to stop your pull stroke and start your push stroke so that you use the whole saw and don't wear the teeth unevenly. Is this not the case?

[–] ThunderclapSasquatch@startrek.website 9 points 7 months ago (1 children)

Nib only exists to prove your saw maker was a competent professional

[–] Blue_Morpho@lemmy.world 2 points 7 months ago

Google says it's a vestigial ornament to represent a handle from when steel quality was poor.

That is all saws used to have two handles because of poor steel quality. The nib was where the front handle would attach. Later the front handle wasn't needed but the nib remained and was later shrunk.

A toolmaker could put a nib and still have bad quality teeth. Doesn't seem like you would judge quality by the nib.

[–] WeirdAlex03@lemmy.zip 19 points 7 months ago

So it's the ancient Roman blacksmith's version of Benchy. Got it

[–] someguy3@lemmy.ca 3 points 7 months ago (1 children)

Iirc it was only found in northern areas. Can't see demonstrations of skill being only there.

[–] EvacuateSoul@lemmy.world 4 points 7 months ago

Maybe the ones elsewhere were too busy being productive.