Narrow London Pattern Brick Trowel — Forged

• Art. Nr: 019721, 010721–012721 (4 sizes)
• Sizes: 9"–12" (229–305 mm)
• Material: High carbon steel, polished blade
• Construction: Forged in one piece (blade, shank and tang)
• Handle: Soft grip, BF21

Product Name & Model

Product name: Narrow London Pattern Brick Trowel — Forged
Construction line: Forged in One-piece High Carbon Steel

Art. Nr (four sizes): 019721 (9"), 010721 (10"), 011721 (11"), 012721 (12").

The four art numbers are one product family in one blade pattern, differing only in blade length. All four are supplied under the same designation "Narrow London Pattern Brick Trowel / Forged in One-piece High Carbon Steel" and all four carry the same soft grip handle, BF21.

Where the name comes from

"London pattern" is one of the two classic brick trowel shapes, the other being the Philadelphia pattern. The London shape is long and elongated with a rounded heel, and it is made in a narrow and a wide version. "Narrow London" is the narrower of the two: it is the standard shape for laying clay brick.

Core Features

• Blade shape: Narrow London pattern, a long, elongated blade with a pointed toe and a heel that is narrower than the Wide London and much narrower than the Philadelphia.
• Mortar volume: the least per pick-up of the three patterns. That is deliberate: it keeps the tool light and lets the mason control a small, even bed of mortar.
• Mortar placement: the rounded London heel lets mortar sit farther forward on the blade, so the load is delivered from the front of the blade rather than dumped from the heel.
• Construction: blade, shank and handle tang formed from a single piece of high carbon steel, with no separate joint between blade and shank.
• Blade finish and flex: the blade is taper ground and polished for sturdiness and flexibility. Taper grinding is what lets a blade flex toward the tip while staying firm at the heel.
• Reinforced impact area: the forging is made so that the area that takes impact is stronger, which gives the tool extra endurance in daily use.
• Blade material: high carbon steel with a polished finish.
• Shank: forged in one piece with the blade. It is a standard forged shank, not a swan-neck tool.
• Handle: soft grip, BF21, on all four sizes.
• Handle end-cap: The handle ends in a hard end-cap for lightly tapping units into line and level. This end-cap is fitted on this forged brick-trowel line.
• Size span: 9" to 12" (229–305 mm), four sizes in one pattern.

Product Advantages

The standard brick laying shape, in a forged build. The Narrow London is a standard pattern for laying clay brick. Leading Tools offers all three brick trowel patterns, and the Narrow London is the lightest and most controllable of them. A mason who makes the same pass many times a day benefits from a blade that carries only as much mortar as the course needs.

One piece, no joint at the heel. Blade, shank and handle tang are formed from one piece of high carbon steel, so there is no joint at the heel. In the Leading Tools range the welded alternative is offered as a separate CO2 Welding line, so the buyer chooses between two constructions of the same blade shape rather than between two different tools.

Blade flex that is built in. The blade is taper ground and polished for both sturdiness and flexibility. A blade of uniform thickness cannot be firm at the heel and springy at the tip at the same time; a tapered blade can. The result is a tool that feels alive in the hand and recovers cleanly after each pass.

A stronger impact area. A trowel is tapped against brick to bed the unit, and it knocks against board, bucket and scaffold all day. The forging is made with a reinforced impact area so that this everyday knocking does not wear out the tool early.

Light and precise. Because the narrow blade is the lightest of the London family, it is the natural choice for long working days, for detailed work, and for any job where the mason wants to place a small bed of mortar exactly where it is needed.

A clear step in the Leading Tools range. The Narrow London sits next to the Wide London (more mortar, same London character) and the Philadelphia (the most mortar, for block and large units). The same four lengths, 9" to 12", are offered in the Narrow London and Wide London, so a crew can switch pattern without changing the length it is used to.

Primary use. Loading, spreading and striking off mortar beds on brick; buttering ends and head joints; placing and tapping units into line; trimming excess mortar from the joint.

How to Use

When to Use

Basic Technique

Correcting unit position (handle end-cap). After the unit is placed, tap lightly with the hard end-cap at the butt of the handle to correct position and level; do not strike with the blade. The forged blade edge remains suitable for cutting brick.

Technique Notes Specific to the Narrow London

• Small, controlled loads. The narrow blade carries the least mortar of the three patterns, so more trips to the board are needed on a long run. In exchange the bed is easy to keep even and the tool stays light.
• Reach into the joint. The long, narrow toe fits into a restricted joint and places mortar where a wider blade would catch the neighbouring brick.
• Use the weight of the tool. A well-made forged trowel does the work with a light grip. Squeezing harder does not give a better bed; it tires the hand.
• Keep the blade clean between loads. Mortar built up on the blade face changes how a load releases. Wipe the blade on the board during the day.

Scenario: Face Brickwork and Exposed Brick

On exposed work the bed has to be even along the full width of the unit, because any inconsistency shows on the finished face. The Narrow London places a controlled, even bed without excess, and the long toe lets the mortar be drawn to the edge of the unit. Strike off cleanly so the surplus leaves the bed instead of being dragged along it, which keeps the brick face clean and saves cleaning work later.

Scenario: Long Working Days

For a crew that lays brick for the whole day, the light weight of the Narrow London is the main advantage. Each pass is a small effort, and over a full day the difference in fatigue adds up. Pair it with a loose grip and with rolling the handle under the thumb instead of rotating the wrist, which is the single change that most reduces wrist load over a working day.

Scenario: Buttering and Head Joints

Turn the trowel over and draw the mortar along the edge of the unit with the underside of the blade. Roll the handle with the thumb to set the blade angle for the turn rather than rotating the wrist.

FAQ

Q: What is the difference between Narrow London and Wide London?
A: The heel. The Narrow London heel is narrower, so the blade holds less mortar per load and the tool is lighter and more controllable; the Wide London heel is wider and holds more mortar. Leading Tools offers both in the same four lengths, 9"–12".

Q: Narrow London or Philadelphia?
A: Philadelphia has a square heel set farther back and carries the most mortar, which is why it suits concrete block and larger units. Narrow London is the pattern for standard clay brick, so specify the Narrow London if the customer lays brick and the Philadelphia if they lay block all day.

Q: What are the four sizes?
A: 019721 (9"), 010721 (10"), 011721 (11") and 012721 (12"). The 10" is an all-round size for general brick laying; the 9" suits detail work and the 12" gives the fastest coverage.

Q: What is the blade made of, and how does it feel?
A: It is forged in one piece from high carbon steel, with a taper-ground, polished blade. Taper grinding makes the blade firm at the heel and flexible toward the tip, which gives a good trowel its feel. All four art numbers come on the soft grip handle BF21; other handles can be fitted on request, so contact Leading Tools sales.

Q: How do I keep the blade clean and protect it from rust?
A: Wash and dry the blade after every use rather than at the end of the job, and oil it; if residue has already set, remove it with a plastic scraper or a nylon brush first, without leaving the blade soaking for long periods.

If rust spots still appear, the blade was not fully dry before oiling, cement residue was left under the oil film, or the tool is stored somewhere damp. Remove the rust, dry thoroughly, oil again and store dry.

Specifications Overview

Construction: One-Piece Forging

The Narrow London Forged line is produced from a single piece of high carbon steel, shaped so that blade, shank and handle tang are one integrated part. The construction is specified as "Forged in One-piece High Carbon Steel".

Two structural effects of one-piece forging matter to a buyer:

• Continuous grain flow. The steel grain follows the contour of the tool instead of being interrupted at a joint.
• No joint at the heel. Blade and shank are formed together as a single part, so there is no junction between them.

Blade Design: Narrow London Pattern Geometry

The pattern is defined by how much mortar the blade holds and where it releases it. The comparison below is qualitative; it shows how the three Leading Tools patterns relate to each other.

The long, pointed toe is what lets the Narrow London reach into a joint without disturbing the units beside it.

Handle Design

All four Narrow London Forged sizes are supplied on the same handle: the soft grip BF21. Other handles can be fitted on request: contact Leading Tools sales.

Specifications

Forged vs. CO2 Welded: Structural Difference

Both lines share the Narrow London blade shape and the same four sizes. The difference is in how blade and shank are joined.

Where This Pattern Sits in the Leading Tools Brick Trowel Range

A rule of thumb for the sales counter: the material chooses the pattern, the operator chooses the size. Block and large units go Philadelphia, standard clay brick goes Narrow London, and Wide London is the answer when the customer wants more mortar capacity without leaving the London family.

Selection Guide

Available Sizes: Narrow London Pattern Forged

Size Selection Logic

By work rate. A longer blade moves more mortar per pass and therefore lays faster, at the cost of a higher load on the wrist on every pass. Where a customer lays all day, that trade-off is the deciding factor, and it is worth putting two sizes in their hand rather than recommending one.

By work type. Short blades give the most control: use a 9" or 10" where the work is detailed, the joints are narrow or the space is restricted. Long blades give the most reach and coverage: use an 11" or 12" on open walls where the same pass is repeated many times.

By operator. Grip pressure, not blade size, is the main cause of hand fatigue; hold the trowel lightly with the thumb on top of the handle. A customer who complains of fatigue should be asked about grip before being sold a smaller blade.

Pattern Selection: Before Size

Pattern is chosen before length, and the question to ask the customer is what they lay, not what they are used to.

Handle Type Selection

All four Narrow London Forged art numbers ship on the soft grip handle BF21. Other handles can be fitted on request: contact Leading Tools sales.

Full Size Reference

All art numbers for this product, complete. The CO2-welded Narrow London is a separate product.

Narrow London Pattern Brick Trowel — Forged in One-piece High Carbon Steel

Attribute summary

Care & Maintenance

After Each Use

Carbon steel rusts, and mortar left on the blade holds moisture against it. Clean the trowel straight after use, not at the end of the week.

• Scrape off excess mortar with the blade edge or a wooden paddle while the mortar is still plastic.
• Wash the blade clean with water and a brush.
• Remove dried mortar with a plastic scraper or a nylon brush. Do not use a wire brush or wire wheel, which scratch the blade surface.
• Dry the blade completely. Do not put it away wet.
• Apply a thin film of tool oil to the whole blade and the shank, and wipe off the excess.

Carbon Steel Rust Prevention

• A thin, even oil film is enough; pooled oil collects dust.
• Store dry. A closed tool bag holds moisture against the blade.
• For storage over weeks or months, wrap the blade in lightly oiled cloth or waxed paper.
• Fit a blade guard or sheath for transport so the blade does not rub against other tools.
• If light rust does appear, remove it with a fine abrasive pad, then oil the blade at once. Acid cleaners are not recommended, because an acid-cleaned blade left bare rusts back quickly.

Regular Inspection

Inspect the blade for bending and the handle for looseness on a regular schedule, and replace the tool if either is found.

Handle Care

• Soft grip (BF21, as supplied): wash with mild soap and water if contaminated; inspect the grip for cuts, tears and hardening; replace it if it is damaged.
• Wooden handles, if fitted on request: sand out splinters with fine abrasive and re-oil periodically; replace if cracked.

Safety

• The toe of the blade is pointed and the edges can cut. Wear gloves when handling brick trowels and sheathe the tool in transport.
• Do not use the trowel as a pry bar or a chisel; side load is what a trowel is not designed for.