Any Idea of the era or what type of ship this anchor is from?

sabre15

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That looks like the type of anchor used on smaller Navy vessels around the 1940's - 1960's. It's more than likely been stamped somewhere.
 

How about mid-1800's, from a coastal trading sailing vessel. If that was a primary anchor the boat likely wasn't that large.
 

I would have to agree with ScubaDude. This type anchor could have been used as far back as the mid 1800's. But also as recently as the early/mid 1900's. This style anchor didn't change very much through this period.

I have a book showing different anchors from the period and will try to post some picts later.

Right now I am gearing up and heading out to do some diving!

Robert
 

Rob, I've got to disagree with you on the mid 1900's. Around the end of the 1800's is when stockless anchors or head stocked anchors took the lead. They held better, were less prone to fouling, and winched up into a hawse pipe without the stock or crossbar getting in the way.
 

Oddly it looks like most of the other anchors recovered locally from civil war era boats.

The Navy stockless was pretty much standard after 1900 ish, example is from the mighty Missouri.

I don't mean to imply that there are hard and fast rules, people used what was available and didn't purchase new ground tackle just to stay with the latest trend.

I'm aware of cannons being marked; other than a broad arrow or something, I wasn't aware of anchors having inscriptions. I'd like to learn more.
 

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Brad, you are correct in the fact that Navy vessels went to what we consider now to be the standard Navy Anchor, but other vessels could have still used this style anchor. Maybe not post 1950, but certainly up to around this time.

My guess is late 1800's to early 1900's.

Robert
 

Thanks everybody for your postings, this anchor was found off of the big bend (Florida) area by a shrimp boat, along what was pulled up was a heavy front mounting piece described as an angel looking statue made of Gold, it was so heavy it tore through the shrimp nets and fell back to the bottom. The captain dragged for a long period of time to recover it but was unsuccefful. This anchor was attatched to a chain and was impossible to pull up until they knocked out the pin to release the chain. Years ago this anchor had numbers on it but with the rusting and moving the anchor around I understand they flaked off or chipped off?
 

That anchor is in the parking lot of Charlies Seafood Restaurant in Crystal River. It is from the Civil War blockade runner "Abbey Bee." I know the shrimper that pulled it up. The Abbey Bee had 2 tons of gold bars on board to purchase war supplies in Cuba for the Confederacy.
 

You get a gold star, nice job!
Any idea what happened to the Gold?
 

Was this ship really named Abby Bee, or was it under a different name?
 

Sabre, I sent you email with pictures.
 

time frame design wize I say 1840 to 1900 era * the metal cross bar rather than wood -- means its not older they used wooden cross bars farther back in time --- it would easy fit in the civil war time frame. -- the vessel could have easily been sailing under a assumed name (fake) to throw off northern spys and confuse the union forces -- say the spy says the "so and so" is a smuggler -- once she got to sea-- she would repaint her hull name --if boarded at sea by blockade vessels shes now the "junebug"-- not the "so and so" her cover name in port.
 

Hello every one, this anchor was pulled up by my father. He had told me every thing about the finding of this.
He died in 1994 and it's been my life long dream to find the ship with every thing that's on it. any info would be great.
I know where he found it. he gave me every thing he knew
 

Welcome to tnet :icon_sunny: Is this the same anchor at the seafood restaurant? And was your father a shrimper?
 

Welcome aboard Scotth!
 

yes it's the same one at charlie's and yes he was a shrimper
 

Sounds like a good solid shipwreck story.Im sure someone will help you find it soon. I think fisheye maybe close to that area . I hope you find it .........
 

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