MANUAL FOR ARMY HORSESHOERS. 



CHAPTER I. 

 HORSESHOERS' TOOLS AND THEIR USES— THE FORGE. 



(Plate I.) 



1. The clinch cutter (fig. 1) consist? of two parts — the blade and 

 the point. The blade is used to cut or to raise the clinches, being 

 placed under the edge of the clinch and struck with the driving 

 hammer. The point is used to punch nails and stubs out of the 

 hoof. It is often placed in the crease of the shoe, under the head 

 of the nail to be withdrawn, and struck smartly with the hammer. 

 The blow raises the nail sufficiently to enable the pinchers to grasp 

 the nail head. 



The pinchers (fig. 2) are used to remove shoes and to draw nail 

 stubs and improperly driven nails. 



The driving hammer (shoeing hammer) (fig. 9) should be used only 

 to drive horseshoe nails, to wring off nails after they have been 

 properly driven, and to make clinches. 



The nippers (fig. 4) are used to remove the surplus growth of wall. 



The shoeing knife (fig. 3) is used to pare away the dead horn near 

 the white line; to make a seat for clips; to remove loose particles 

 from the hoof; to relieve pressure on corns and cracks; and to open 

 the sole and wall for the escape of pus or for the removal of foreign 

 bodies. 



