Rutter spade carving

Date Added: 07 January 2009 Contributor: Heritage North Year of Photo: 2009 Picture No: 450

Carving, by Sandy Robertson, of forester using a rutter or "big spade". Possibly self portrait.

Two other tools rest in the background awaiting use. Are they specialised too? What are their names and purposes?

Thanks to Sandy Robertson.

Groups: Forestry in Action, Miscellaneous, Tools, equipment and clothing

Group: Forestry Areas - 3245 pictures

Pic No: 449
Retirement of Harold Ritchie - Forest of Deer Pic No: 451
Emslie Wilson presentation - 1992

11 Comments

The three pronged tool is a "drag" used to pull away the turf when cut by the rutter.One new forest worker, when presented with the "big spade"on his first day at work, asked where the other man was to help him operate it. Comment left on 17 February 2010 at 07:48 by Pat Mc Auley

In the Glenfinart area it was known as a hawk possibly a local name in the west. Comment left on 14 March 2010 at 22:35 by John McIntyre

John and Pat are correct is that the pronged tool is as a drag or hawk - depending on the district. Actually, Chieftain Forge marketed is a Heuk which I have variously heard it pronounced Heuch, Hawk or Houk - depending on the regional dialect. Comment left on 22 June 2012 at 23:39 by Alexander Robertson

The tools are a drot or drott? used for dragging the lumps the lumps of peat cut by the rutter out of the drain. The other is a bottoming shovel used to clean and level the bottom of the drain Comment left on 21 October 2012 at 11:05 by Anonymous

The rutter came in a right or left footed version. Comment left on 21 October 2012 at 21:14 by Andy MacNicol

In the forests of North Wales they were known as a Rutter and a Gaff Comment left on 31 October 2016 at 10:39 by Bill Jones

I'M SEARCHING FOR A RUTTER AND A (HACK), AS WE CALLED IT. THE HACK BEING USED FOR DRAGGING THE CUT TURVES OUT OF THE DRAIN. EARLIER CALLS FOR HELP HAVE YIELDED NEG RESPONSE Comment left on 28 November 2017 at 21:05 by J.A.HISLOP

Does anyone know of any video of this tool being used? Just trying to understand the physicality of it.

Thanks! Comment left on 14 September 2018 at 21:15 by Wanda Black

I used a rutter when working with the Forestry Commission in the 1950s. It was used for cutting Hill drains in the Highlands and marked out both sides and lateral cuts for the proposed drain. A hock was then used to pull out the cut sections and a narrow sloping spade smoothed out the bottom. The removed sections were them split and spruce trees and similar were planted in the gap created. Comment left on 27 December 2019 at 11:37 by Paddy O'Connor

My late father told me he thought that the peat cutting tool originated in Lower Saxony. Comment left on 04 February 2021 at 21:28 by S Rutter

Got left and right footer used up till last year mostly for small areas planting used for mounds for planting and draining work diggers do all this work now but rutters have knack for how to use Comment left on 23 March 2023 at 13:41 by ANDY MARTIN

Form Goes Here