Dekkjern

Dekkjern is a traditional hand tool used in carpentry and maritime work for levering, prying, and lifting. The name combines the Norwegian word for deck, dekk, with jern, iron, reflecting its association with deck maintenance and shipbuilding.

Designs of dekkjern vary, but the tool typically consists of a steel bar with a curved or hooked end that functions as a claw or lever. Some versions have a flat, chisel-like end for prying between boards or into joints. Length can range from short, hand-sized models to longer bars used for heavy prying, and some variants include a grip or handle to improve leverage. The tool is valued for its ability to grip nails, lift deck boards, separate timbers, or drive wedges in confined spaces.

Historically, dekkjern was common in Nordic shipyards and wooden construction from the 18th to the 19th century and into the early modern period. It was employed by shipwrights, sailors, and carpenters to perform tasks that required leverage without damaging surrounding structures. While modern pry bars and crowbars have largely supplanted it in many contexts, dekkjern remains in use in traditional boatyards, restoration projects, and among practitioners who work with historic timber framing and wooden decks.

In contemporary practice, dekkjern is recognized as part of traditional tool kits rather than a standard item in modern workshops. It is kept for specialized tasks, demonstrations, and the preservation of historical building techniques.