Bronze ship spike???

**Coastie59** · Oct 26, 2011, 05:17 PM

Hello all, I dug this today off the coast of NC in the wet sand while MDing. Looking for some info, what type of ship, the possible age etc...thanks in advance and look forward to all of ur knowledge. Shown with a penny, think it is bronze, looks like brass and is not iron.

**aquanut** · Oct 26, 2011, 06:20 PM

Yes, Bronze. Judging from the bent nature, most likely a shipwreck. Probably 1700's

Aquanut

**Leebo in SC** · Oct 26, 2011, 08:02 PM

cool

**stevemc** · Oct 27, 2011, 08:02 AM

Yes, it is hard to exactly nail down a date, pun intended, but they used bronze square nails and spikes for a long time. Many countries, centuries, etc, so hard to say when or whose it is. Most definetly a ships spike, they do find them in that area a lot. Keep it, it is a nice keepsake.

**Old Bookaroo** · Oct 28, 2011, 05:36 PM

Coastie59:

It's a nice find.

I'm curious how the experts here know this didn't come from a dock or other maritime structure. I'm not trying to be a buzzkill - and a wreck artifact is a lot more fun than a large nail from a dock.

Just askin'...

Good luck to all,

~The Old Bookaroo

**stevemc** · Oct 28, 2011, 06:12 PM

True, it could be from some kind of a structure that they used ships spikes to build a dock, could happen, and probably has happened, but usually these were used to build large ships. Plus he was on the NC coast, not many docks out there! Ever! Having seen 100s of these on many different shipwrecks, and no where else, to me, that is the only place that they are used. I have never heard of one being found inland anywhere. Only on the beach near shipwrecks or on shipwrecks.

**Real de Tayopa Tropical Tramp** · Oct 30, 2011, 09:51 AM

G'morning Ladies & guys: side thingie, square nails - iron mostly - are readily avaiible in Mexico and other parts. They are actually far better for nailing since they do not force the fibres of the wood apart as much as the pointed modern ones do and so have better holding power..

Don Jose de La Mancha

**stevemc** · Oct 30, 2011, 05:59 PM

Yes, square nails usually iron some copper and bronze have been used for a while, and still are. But big spikes, bronze ones, I dont think there are very many used except for ship building.

**goldnugget** · Oct 31, 2011, 09:36 AM

Coastie59- I live in Charlotte,N.C. and have only been to the N C Outer banks twice ,usually after a North Easter or Hurricane. This is a picture of my Spike that was found ,I usually detect from Nags Head toward Corolla. I really need a 4 x 4 vechicle to drive North Farther. This spike is a little over 6 1/2 inches-- goldnugget

**Mr nibbs** · Nov 17, 2011, 03:39 AM

Here are some spikes/nails I have found on a beach, all within about one foot of each other. I have been told that the reason they are bent and not broken is that they have a special treatment during there manufacturing process if they are to be used in ship building. This process allows them to bend with the timbers and not snap.