Dug this up yesterday. Any clue what it is?

[Meldal68]

Dug this up near a civil war hospital site. Any clue what it is?

 

[mort65]

if I had to guess I would say a clamp.

 

[trapperart]

I would guess clamp also. The two pieces on the finger holes could be used to tie them shut

 

[Back-of-the-boat]

If you Google candle wick scissors you will see they are very similar maybe they are candle snuffers.

 

[Steve in PA]

Yeah I'm going with candle snuffers too

 

[vpnavy]

If the puppy was a candle wick scissor or a candle snuffer - why would they have locking pins?

 

[Professor of Engineering]

Very interesting find, congratulations! GL & HH

 

[ironhorse]

The pins on the finger holes suggest it may have been set on a heat source(stove) like a trivet, and heated up and used to straighten hair.
My guess is vintage hair iron