Anyone have an idea what this is?

[kw4outdoors]

Found this today, thought it was a spoon. Is this correct

[creskol]

It has the looks of a handle to lift-style cabinet or icebox latch.

[kenley]

Not a spoon. It pivoted at the rust point. Clasp/latch for a cylinderal object.

[kw4outdoors]

thanks for all the information on this item. It is brass material

[TheCannonballGuy]

Kw4outdoors, you obviously did not bother to read the number-one post at the top of the What-Is-It? forum, titled "Pease Read Before Posting Items in "What Is It?" The instructions say to tell the size of the item, and post a photo of your object with a ruler or common US coin alongside it.

That being said... and having to make a wild guess about your object's size because you did not tell us any measurements... your mystery object looks very much like a part of a broken shoe-buckle from the Colonial era. That form of shoe-buckle often has the long narrow "reinforcing ridge" on the back of its frame near the chape's (a.k.a. "prongs") hinge-pin, like your mystery object does.

[CC Hunter]

I will concur with TheCannonballGuy on all points.

The piece is indeed a portion of a Colonial era shoe buckle. The rusted area is where the center chape was attached. Shoe buckles of the period also have a curve, to fit the shape of the shoe. This broken portion appears to now have a slightly more pronounced bend, than would have originally been seen with the complete buckle. From my recollection, I've personally dug that exact same design in brass shoe buckles or pieces thereof.

CC Hunter

[Breezie]

WELCOME to the forum KW. It looks like some type of lift/lever handle, but I'd like to see pics of both ends. Depending on the size, I've seen brass cigarette smoking stands with a handle at the top similar to that. BUT, if that is a ketchup or mustard packet it is wrapped around, it is waaaay too tiny to be a handle, and could be a part of a buckle as the others have said. Interesting find, Breezie

[kuger]

I am with our two expert opinions!!

[CC Hunter]

The item is most assuredly a piece from the frame of a Colonial shoe buckle. The rusted area will have a pinhole through the brass, where the center chape was originally affixed to pivot.

Here is a complete example of a shoe buckle frame (missing the chape) of similar style:

http://forum.treasurenet.com/index.p...,398001.0.html

CC

[creskol]

It will be interesting to learn the dimensions of this piece. It might also be beneficial to see a photo of the ends.

[kw4outdoors]

Sorry for not placing a ruler by this item. Wow a colonial shoe buckle, I would have never thought this. Thank you for your help with this

[Swartzie]

Your third picture does look like a pin terminal of an 18th century shoe buckle. I scanned an illustration for reference. Appears you have an old site. That's a good thing if you like old stuff. Does the site have history?

-Swartzie

[kw4outdoors]

More pics