cattle branding iron ?

[jeweler21]

I found this yesterday at an old school that I have recovered lots of pieces that appear to be from a former ranch. I believe it is a branding iron with the handle broken off. Any info or comments appreciated. 4 1/4" wide X 4" high. Possibly a W formed from 2 anchors?
Found about six inches deep along with two cinch rings and a harness buckle in the same hole.
Good Luck & HH



I believe the first photo is the front and the second the back.

 

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[Shunkaha]

Doesn't look like a branding iron to me. Maybe a piece of decorative iron or piece of an iron fence or something. Maybe even something off of a piece of farm equipment

 

[DCMetal]

I'm not sure that's a cattle brand but there is a Texas registry where you can look up past and present brands. Let us know what you discover-- as a native Texan I'm always interested.

Here's the site: Brand Search

 

[jeweler21]

Doesn't look like a branding iron to me. Maybe a piece of decorative iron or piece of an iron fence or something. Maybe even something off of a piece of farm equipment

That is what I thought at first, but after inspecting it the letter edges are tapered from the front and where it was attached to whatever is lower than the letter or anchors and the back is flat.
Thanks for the reply, Travis

 

[jeweler21]

I'm not sure that's a cattle brand but there is a Texas registry where you can look up past and present brands. Let us know what you discover-- as a native Texan I'm always interested.

Here's the site: Brand Search

I have been unable to locate any brand image like it but I appreciate the reply.
Thanks, Travis

 

[Tejaas]

As a Texan...

<-----With a brand registered in 14 counties....

That is most definitely not a hot iron.

Id say its just a broke piece off an old wrought iron sewing machine table, fire screen, bakers rack or any of the various other common ranchhouse fixtures of old.


~Tejaas~

 

[Tejaas]

Plus, you can see that your wrought iron you found was a continuous pattern.

 

[Shunkaha]

That is what I thought at first, but after inspecting it the letter edges are tapered from the front and where it was attached to whatever is lower than the letter or anchors and the back is flat.
Thanks for the reply, Travis

I've seen a lot of brands and I have never seen one that used flat iron like that. Plus you can kinda see where it appears to be broke off of something. I guess it's still possible. But a brand with that much surface area would be very uncommon.

Most brands look like this:


Some of the older ones used round steel like this:

 

[Tejaas]

I've seen a lot of brands and I have never seen one that used flat iron like that. Plus you can kinda see where it appears to be broke off of something. I guess it's still possible. But a brand with that much surface area would be very uncommon.

I was trying to type out something like this, but couldn't word it in a way that suited me.

Well said, Skunkaha... too much surface area is bad for the stock... Flies and infection run rampant if given a chance. Thinner iron = less trauma and a quicker heal.

A closed design like that, made of wide bar stock, on a 4" iron (down here thats a calf iron) thats just bad business... And a blotched brand ain't good for the livestock, the rancher, or in a county court. And stock inspectors don't mess around.

Back when they didn't have squeeze chutes quite like we got now, open brands of 6" or so became the unspoken standard for beeves and horses. Getting a good iron mark on smaller stock like pigs, sheep and goats is largely unpopular now, most are in favor of inkspotting, ear notching, or tags.

Times have changed though, and nowadays with technology like CNC and cold irons, there is a lot more forgiveness when it comes to smaller, more intricate brands.




~Tejaas~

 

[park pirate]

Very cool..

 

[sutphin]

Looks to be ash shaker from an old stove.vanzutphen

 

[jeweler21]

Thanks everyone for the comments.
Good Luck & HH