Awls

Awls are useful tools that come in many variants for different purposes. Generally speaking they are for poking holes in different materials.

Leather craft awls

Some awls are really sharp and pointy - for example for making holes for sewing in leather while doing leather crafts.

Even in leather crafting there are different types of awls but they all have a sharp point. While some are round, others are shaped with sharp edges.

Awls for textiles

Awls for textiles are rarely as sharp as the ones for leather, and they are generally made from hard wood rather than metal. That being said, if the textile is tightliy woven I sometimes have to use a round metal awl to poke the first hole separating the threads of the fabric for the wooden awl to be able to enter through the fabric.

Marlin spikes

Marlin spikes are used to separate the cords in ropes. They too are a form of awl although being flat on one side like a chisel but generally made from hard wood.