BIG hooker in the woods + Springfield CW butt plate **cleaned up**

[ModernMiner]

After work today I was able to get a few hours in at one of my CW wooded spots before it rained.
Nothing exciting, but hauling this giant tree hooker picker upper thingy was quite a challenge. Of course I had to find it WAY out in the woods rather than close to my truck. I dug it right next to a large tree. I think the tree won. Looks old, but who knows?

I found a "Treble Colour" flat button, and a few what's its too. No CW lead unfortunately.

One piece I am intrigued by it the small flat copper piece. I thought it was just junk until I got home and flattened it back out. There are some letters, numbers, and a design on it. The piece looks very old but I have no idea what it is.
Any help on unlocking this mystery would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks for looking at this ho-hum post.
-MM-

 

[digginer]

Re: I found a BIG hooker in the woods + more!

from the size of and the way it is joined together,over kill for ice i would say, maybe for crane to load trees with

 

[Tnmountains]

Re: I found a BIG hooker in the woods + more!

They are for sure log skids or dogs. Way to big for ice. So go do some logging.

Here's some history
Logging dogs- http://www.mcmillanlibrary.org/rosholt/wi-logging-book/wilogging/images/00000018.pdf
This is a cool article and looks like the ones you have
Ice tongs- http://icetoolcollections.com/13icetongs.htm

You are right sir. Hay tongs are way thinner as well. Can you imagine hooking that up to a hay bale ?
Here is what they used before logging tongs. Wedges. A wedge could split your log if you were not careful. When you see wedges you know they were using mules when you see dogs they could have been skidding with equiptment. Old logging gear was lost a lot. Glad to see this post as I knew I have dug a few and they have been lost in my basement.

 

[Engineer in MD]

Re: I found a BIG hooker in the woods + more!

MM,

I vote that they are logging tongs due to the size and heft of the metal. Ice tongs typically had handles as well.
In fact, Mike Rowe of "Dirty Jobs" did a show with a mule logging team and I'd swear that the tongs they had were almost exactly the same. I found it - http://www.veoh.com/collection/s630345/watch/v219133ZwGZw79N look at about 3:00 minutes in, you should see the tongs.

Also, the NUF ACTU is the probably the middle of the word maNUFACTUrer, or manufacturing etc. In fact, I think I can just make out an "A" to the left of the N. You could probably tell better.

I love mysteries like this...Great finds too!

 

[Roland58]

Re: I found a BIG hooker in the woods + more!

You guys talking about the hookers with big spreads crack me up! Everyone knows that a hooker with a larger spread can handle a bigger log.......nothing to figure out there.

 

[september]

Re: I found a BIG hooker in the woods + more!

Nice finds!!

 

[Bavaria Mike]

Re: I found a BIG hooker in the woods + more!

Nice finds MM! That right whatsit is an ox shoe, I tend to dig 1 or 5 every time I go out and sometimes that's all I find, LOL. HH, Mike

 

[Bulldog1948]

Re: I found a BIG hooker in the woods + more!

Well, whether they're hay hooks [ my vote] ice tongs or logging hooks- they've definately caused a little stir. Oh, I just remember, we used to use these type of hooks when we butchered cows and stuff.
Main thing is, that you didn't get a hernia from lugging those suckers outta the woods.
Bulldog 1948

 

[DD-777]

Re: I found a BIG hooker in the woods + more!

Only you can find a hooker in the woods my friend...


Since nobody has taken a swing at what the "lid thing" is, here's my guess: It looks to be a part, if not the remains of a pocket watch. The hole in the center is where the whatchamacallit would come through for the hands to be attached. Is it definitely copper or possibly brass?

The piece with the writing on it, as Amasters stated, definitely looks like it spells out "manufacturer".

Looking forward to getting out again this weekend, but do me a favor - please take this sticker off your truck already...

 

[Goes4ever]

Re: I found a BIG hooker in the woods + more!

lol...what a title grabber!

 

[elee]

Re: I found a BIG hooker in the woods + more!

The right hand whatsit is actually a butt plate from a CW period rifle, at a guess I would say 1863 Springfield, but impossible to be sure without close examination. Looks like an ox shoe in the pic, but if you look again you will see the right angle bend at the tang that held the upper stock screw. Some time in an electrolysis tank might reveal some military markings. This is a way cool find!

 

[steelheadwill]

Re: I found a BIG hooker in the woods + more!

Great Stuff MM
Maybe Large Hooker for pulling the large blocks of Ice from the pond,
the angle of the hooks resemble ice tongs more than the logging hooks
was the copper piece rounded before you flattened it?
I have found a copper graduated measuring cup with similar design,
embossed with ounce markings on the lines
Best Digs, Herbie

 

[SkyPirate]

Re: I found a BIG hooker in the woods + more!

Could it be a snuf can lid?

 

[diggummup]

Re: I found a BIG hooker in the woods + more!

I'm leaning towards a logging hook, I have seen hay hooks that big but the shape is not quite right.

 

[ModernMiner]

Re: I found a BIG hooker in the woods + more!

THANKS EVERYONE FOR THE GREAT INFO, REPLIES, and JOKES.

As far as the tongs, maybe they are the ultra rare ice/tree/hay tongs with limited production of less than 10 sets?
I'm actually steering towards log tongs due to the size/ weight and the fact that I found them at the base of a large tree in the woods.

As far as the round copper piece, a pocket watch sounds correct. Thanks.

On the rusty piece top right, it is indeed a CW era rifle butt plate (Springfield?). I feel like an idiot now because I have already found a similar one in these woods before. I've uncovered one of the screw hole in it, and will be doing electrolysis on it to clean it up a bit. Great find!

On the copper piece with the numbers & letters, I got an e-mail from Shark Pit Rob last night. The word on it was definitely "Manufacture". Thanks Rob.

Thanks for all the response folks. You're the best!!!
-MM-

 

[trixie charger]

Re: I found a BIG hooker in the woods + more!

Logging or Skidding Tongs, depends what ya call them.

 

[steelheadwill]

Re: I found a BIG hooker in the woods + more!

Hi MM,
Id'ed the Hooker & Pocketwatch,
Now what about the numbered manufactured piece?
Here's a similar looking piece I dug, whaddaya think

 

[treasurehound]

Re: I found a BIG hooker in the woods + more!

OMG!!!!! and I thought I was the only one hauling out heavy stuff. I haven't hauled out anything like yours. Mine are usually a lot of horseshoes from a couple camps we are hunting. Your tongs could be for ice, logs or hay. I used to load hay in a barn when I worked the farm when I was younger and that is what we used. Looks like you are hunting a site where an old barn used to be so I would say they were more for hay or logs. Great finds regardless. Congrats.

 

[elee]

Re: I found a BIG hooker in the woods + more!

Hi MM,
Id'ed the Hooker & Pocketwatch,
Now what about the numbered manufactured piece?
Here's a similar looking piece I dug, whaddaya think

Hi Steelheadwill; I believe your item is a collapsible whiskey jigger. Before it got squashed, the nesting rings would extend for measuring your shots, and collapse for pocketability. The measurements on yours are pretty standard on jiggers still today. Cool!
Elee

 

[allen]

Re: I found a BIG hooker in the woods + more!

the hook could be for logs or ice.
I worked at a veneer mill and we
used hooks just like that one.

 

[ModernMiner]

Re: I found a BIG hooker in the woods + more!

Thanks Folks,
I figure the large tongs may come in handy in case Andy or Bubba get on their knees to dig a hole and can't get back up.

As far as the mystery copper piece with numbers & letters, the world may never know.

Thanks for your help,
Doug