Thoughts on this Gimlet Tool...

[Swartzie]

I dug this item a couple miles from Ohio's only Revolutionary War fort (Ft. Laurens). It was found near a river crossing that was used back then. The same crossing was also used in a 1764 military expedition (Bouquet). I also included a picture I found online of a tool that matches mine with the caption "Rev war 18th century" http://www.worthpoint.com/worthopedi...mlet-tool-hand So, now this has me excited thinking I may have dug an item that dates to the Revolutionary War.

The tool measures 4" in length. The handle is 2" and the diameter of the shaft is 3/16".

Any thoughts on if this piece dates to the Revolutionary War?

-Swartzie

[Lucas]

Hard to say, since they were made for so long, and are still made. Worthpoint = any seller's description, whether they know anything or not.

Most gimlets had wood handles, so keep your eye out for well dated ones with metal handles.

[lrgcent]

In northern Pa I find these allot at flea markets and antique shops and most sellers do not know what these are and list them as an old drill, I buy these for usually for under $5.00, I have two metal handle ones and two wood handle ones that I've hung on to, I've seen them sell on eBay for $15 to $20 bucks, most list as civil war era, interesting if some could be earl er! Nice Find!

[Sabot]

Could be 18th century or could be 19th century unless you found other stuff in context with it hard to say. These metal handled gimlets did exist during the 18th century, but they also existed in the 19th century. To see a metal gimlet basically identical to yours from a 1750s-1760s context from Ft Ligonier in PA see-

Archaeological Investigation of Fort Ligonier, 1960 – 1965 by Grimm. You can buy this book which identifies many, many other 18th century items ranging from cowbells to combs in it.

http://fortligonier.org/shop.php

[Swartzie]

Could be 18th century or could be 19th century unless you found other stuff in context with it hard to say. These metal handled gimlets did exist during the 18th century, but they also existed in the 19th century. To see a metal gimlet basically identical to yours from a 1750s-1760s context from Ft Ligonier in PA see-

Archaeological Investigation of Fort Ligonier, 1960 – 1965 by Grimm. You can buy this book which identifies many, many other 18th century items ranging from cowbells to combs in it.

http://fortligonier.org/shop.php

Thanks for the information and the link. I just might have to pick up a copy of that book. I have found a number of rifle balls and molded shot in the same location. But, then again, they really can't be dated.

-Swartzie