Bookmark, Hairpin or letter opener?

[Tinman]

 

[Icewing]

I'd guess letter opener based on it's length.

 

[Slowtaknow]

I thought bookmark until i searched image now i agree on letter opener.

 

[Joe-Dirt]

Looks like a letter openerish lookin’ thang I reckon, very cool

 

[ARC]

From what I see from here... cant really see due to pics...

Appears a bit too thin for a letter opener and another clue is "head" or "handle" is / does not look indicative of an opener.

I am leaning towards a page marker / bookmark.

But ?

 

[DCMatt]

Possibly a 'paper knife'. Used to slit the uncut edges of pages in a book (a common occurrence in the 19th C). By the late 1800's, better printing processes eliminated the need for paper knives.

Are you finding other 19th C relics in the area?

 

[A2coins]

HMMMMMM interesting no way a letter opener

 

[HuntinDog]

I'm in the Book Mark camp.
Very cool find for sure though

 

[invent4hir]

The pierced design suggests Victorian era. Like DCMatt said, any other 19c finds nearby? Other clues might be found determining what structures and/or activity took place there.