Bayonet?

[Doug from NS]

Hi, this is my first post.

I was detecting what I think was a small logging camp a couple of days ago and found what I think might be an old broken and repurposed bayonet. The area has a small raised stone foundation and the land is very rocky and has never been cultivated. The only other finds in the are has been a draw knife, a horseshoe and lots of square nails. The site is not far from my home in an area that has been populated since the late 1700's

The 4 inch long handle is copper. If anybody has some insight into what it may be I would be interested to hear.

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[A2coins]

Im not sure but that is freakin cool

 

[A2coins]

Welcome to tnet

 

[releventchair]

Welcome to T-Net and congrats on your detecting!

Your recovered object hints of being a file.

 

[boogeyman]

Welcome to T-Net and congrats on your detecting!

Your recovered object hints of being a file.

Does appear to be a re-purposed file, the wear on the blade looks like it might've been used like a cabinet scraper or similar. That to me makes it even better as far as finds go. From what you've found so far it sounds like a fun site to hunt. Bet it'd be fun to research out what / who was there, maybe some real interesting history. Have you worked out from the foundation yet? You're off to a good start!!!

 

[Brendan75]

Hi, nice find. Congrats

 

[firemanphob]

Welcome from Indiana

 

[Doug from NS]

Does appear to be a re-purposed file, the wear on the blade looks like it might've been used like a cabinet scraper or similar. That to me makes it even better as far as finds go. From what you've found so far it sounds like a fun site to hunt. Bet it'd be fun to research out what / who was there, maybe some real interesting history. Have you worked out from the foundation yet? You're off to a good start!!!

Thanks for your reply,I have found a number of files in various sites, this is not a file. I took a very close look. The end has been broken off and the wear on the blade looks to me like the result of repeated sharpening and lots of use.

The site is a bit of an anomaly, there is a road which cuts across the province of Nova Scotia that was started from both ends about 1780 but was abandoned in the 1830's due to the difficulty of the terrain (lots of swamps, rock and lakes to go around). Land was granted in various places along the way and there are old homesteads, mills and supposedly an inn. In some places the road is under water due to dams put in place in the 1880's. Most of the homesteads and C-shops (cooper shops?) are on 19th century maps although I have found some sites that are unrecorded. The road runs for maybe 80 miles or more. Some places are in use under modern roads but most is now just a trail thru the woods and unpassable except on foot. Lots of coins from the 1770's onward to be found, as well as the occasional musket ball, button, buckle, relic etc. And of course, lots of modern rifle shell casings.

About a 90 minute drive away, along the same road coincidentally, my father in law has a 400 acre woodlot that was a farm from about 1800 to its abandonment in 1865. After that it was an orchard of likely 500 or more trees until WWI. I am trying to save what I can of the orchard now (a Big job, maybe 50 trees now) when I am not metal detecting. Lots of interesting finds there, including a 1694 William and Mary farthing, 1812 halfpenny token, 1844 1/2 farthing and a beautiful signed croatal bell. I'll post some pictures. I am going to try to hook up something to dredge the old well which is still in use. There must be something at the bottom of it.

This site with the file/bayonet is on a secondary road that runs off of this main road, about a mile into the woods, off by itself. The land has never been cultivated and is not listed on the old maps. I thought it was a modern (1940's) fire road behind my house until I stumbled upon the foundation while walking the dog. There appears to be the remains of an old hunting camp not far off. I would date that to the 40's or 50's, nothing but junk left from that. I don't know what to make of it but is close by so make for a nice quick hunt. Coyotes are an issue though, they are big and mean here having cross bread with wolves, walk softly and carry a big stick!

 

[Doug from NS]

Thanks everyone for the welcome

 

[Inspector]

Not sure, but nice piece, congratulations & Welcome to tnet