Parting blade and tool holder therefor

A tool holder comprising:

• a tool shank having a shank axis defining forward and rearward directions;
• and
• a tool head connected to the tool shank, the tool head having a tool head length LH and comprising a pocket configured to accommodate a parting blade or a cutting insert;
• the tool shank comprising:
• opposing uppermost and lowermost shank surfaces which define upward and downward directions perpendicular to the shank axis;
• and
• first and second shank side surfaces which define first and second side directions perpendicular to the shank axis and the upward and downward directions;
• wherein:
• adjacent to at least a portion of the first shank side surface, there is a reinforcement portion connecting the first shank side surface and the tool head, the reinforcement portion extending further in the downward direction than the lowermost shank surface.