This is a "yotsume-kiri", or four-sided japanese gimlet (momi-giri). It is used to make holes in wood for wooden or bamboo nails. I made this one to see how few tools I could make one with. The bit is made of annealed spring steel key stock, which I hammered and burnished to harden slightly. It is very sharp and accurate.
And a name plate for my girlfriend's friend, an elementary school teacher. The feet are bridle jointed to the face, glued, and wooden-nailed. The water-based finish makes it look a bit plasticky, but as C. said, "a kid will probably puke on it" so it's probably a good choice.
