I think it’s brass

[Tack Driver]

Looking for some info on a metal detecting find. I think it’s brass. It has the name T. Keenan on it with a bunch of stars around it. And a little symbol above the name

 

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[Toecutter]

No idea but sure is neat!!

 

[Toecutter]

Welcome to the forum from Michigan!!

 

[Tack Driver]

Thank you toecutter. glad to be here!

 

[bologna321]

I have 2 guesses

top of a saddle horn
bottom of a furniture leg

 

[Tack Driver]

Those are good guesses, the furniture leg did cross my mind.

 

[Icewing]

Paperweight and paper clip holder (WAG)

 

[bologna321]

How about a brass butt plate for a flintlock pistol?

 

[Bigcypresshunter]

Wow this thing is really cool. It reminds me of the old cast drilled shank or drilled wedge shank button but without the drill hole. However I realize its too big to be a button but it reminds me of these.

Early Buttons "The most characteristic attribute of most Spanish military buttons of this period was the drilled wedge shank or eye by which the buttons were secured to their uniforms. Cast via the lost wax method by artisans who varied greatly in terms of maintaining standards of quality control, each button had an integrally cast, rounded to rectangular slab or wedge of metal fixed in an upright position to the button's reverse face. An eye was formed by drilling or punching a hole in the upright shank either prior to or following the casting process."

I dont know what it is but I like bologna321's guess. There are too many T. Keenans to easily find it but this should be solvable.

 

[Mr. B]

I would think that it may have something to do with a bell of some sort. Only a guess.

 

[Tpmetal]

since there is no way to really secure that tab into something(no hole) and the writing is on the tab. ill wager it is some kind of leather or jewlers tool. kinda like a form or anvil surface? Just a shot in the dark though, it has me stumped. just doesn't look like it was ever fastened to anything. maybe a cobblers tool of some sort?

 

[Reanm8er]

Welcome Tack Driver, I was thinking furniture foot before I read it so I'm standing by that! Nice shot bologna!

 

[TomPA]

Neat find! I have no guess, but I wouldn't think that the section with his name on would go into anything (permanently) such as a grip of a pistol, chair/table leg, etc. Otherwise, why have the name on it and then bury it into the wood?

 

[Hawks88]

Interesting find. Good luck with an ID. I have no idea.

 

[1637]

its funny that the writing would be upside up if you set it on a table.i should someone on there will get it.cool find
brad

 

[bradyboy]

just thinking
the markings indicate stars
center shows a star with rays
portable, pocket sundial?
brady

 

[Anduril]

I think it's a tool of some sort.
You would place the part with the lettering between your middle and index fingers at the Proximal phalanges (part of the finger closest to your wrist).
Or maybe it could be grasped between the thumb and index finger.
Then, you would rock the piece back and forth in order to work some object (and I'm thinking leather for some reason??)

Then again, it could just a mini hat for chips and salsa.

 

[Bigcypresshunter]

13 stars?

 

[Tack Driver]

Yeah 13 stars around the name and two more in the symbol. Pretty odd, but I also think it’s a tool of some sort.

 

[Back-of-the-boat]

Where did you find it an old home site ,the middle of the woods a garage sale, maybe by knowing what type of area you found it in might give a clue to it's use.