What Kind of Nail is This?

[ANTIQUARIAN]

A friend of mine found this 'nail' in a War of 1812 British fort here in Ontario. There were renovations being done to the fort at the time and it was found in the ground. It measures 5" long, by 1/2" at it's widest point near the top. I've dug lots of nails, both round and square, but I've never seen anything like this before?

I'm thinking that a blacksmith might have specially made it for something other then to be used as nail?

Any ideas as to age or use would be great!

Thanks,
Dave

[CC Hunter]

You nail appears to be a 40d (penny) common nail. The uniform round head, along with the even diameter of the shaft, tends to indicate machine manufacture. Machine made round nails are constructed from various gauge steel wire on spools, that is cut to length, end sharpened, and a driving head fashioned. This type of manufacturing began around the Turn-of-the-Century (1900), and continues to present times. There are in fact some varieties of blacksmith made round nails, from the mid-1800's, yet these are comparatively very crude in shape, size, and construction.

http://www.glasgowsteelnail.com/nailmaking.htm

CC Hunter

[ANTIQUARIAN]

You nail appears to be a 40d (penny) common nail. The uniform round head, along with the even diameter of the shaft, tends to indicate machine manufacture. Machine made round nails are constructed from various gauge steel wire on spools, that is cut to length, end sharpened, and a driving head fashioned. This type of manufacturing began around the Turn-of-the-Century (1900), and continues to present times. There are in fact some varieties of blacksmith made round nails, from the mid-1800's, yet these are comparatively very crude in shape, size, and construction.

http://www.glasgowsteelnail.com/nailmaking.htm

CC Hunter

I agree it does look like a common nail in the pics, but this nail is clearly handmade, this is what really got me to thinking that it's not just another nail! The problem is that when my friend showed it to me all I had was my Blackberry to photograph it with.

Thanks very much for your help CC Hunter!
Dave