Pricking iron

A pricking iron is a flat metal tool with a row of angled prongs, struck with a mallet to mark or partially pierce a row of evenly spaced holes along a stitch line. It comes in different spacing counts per inch and different prong angles, with 45 degree angled stitches being the most traditional look.

Its job is consistency. Marking holes ahead of time with a pricking iron means every stitch in a seam lands the same distance apart and at the same angle, which is difficult to achieve trying to eyeball needle placement by hand. Many pricking irons only mark or lightly pierce the surface rather than punching all the way through thick leather, especially on heavier weights.

Choosing the right spacing depends on the leather weight and look you want, finer spacing on thin wallet leather and wider spacing on heavier belts or bags. A common confusion is mixing up a pricking iron with a stitching chisel, which is a separate but related tool that punches all the way through rather than just marking. A dull or bent prong is a common problem that leads to uneven, wandering stitch lines.