🔎 UNIDENTIFIED Is this an iron file?

[invent4hir]

All, I found this ferrous artifact at a former cabin site. Initially I thought it was a file. Other artifacts, including large cents, flat buttons, horse shoes, pewter eating utensils and a chisel found nearby range from the late 1700s to mid 1800s. Any help w/ ID is appreciated.

 

[Retired Sarge]

Possibly a strap hinge.....?

 

[russau]

To me it appears to look like a knife blade blank .

 

[ticndig]

it looks like a blacksmith project that was never finished.

 

[Blackfoot58]

Possibly a file, or a blacksmith’s piece to be worked more.

 

[pepperj]

Looks like a possible hole, if it is I'll go with the part of a strap hinge.

 

[searcher]

This thing is only about 6" long.
Reminds me of a firesteel.

Either an old small file or a firesteel.

 

[releventchair]

Kinda wants to be a gouge or chisel.

I've seen draw knives with handles rat tangs peened over to secure them.
Yours looks more decorative but would secure handle. Meaning it doesn't look pounded on with a harder item. Though a wooden maul or even a round of wood could have been used to thump it.

 

[invent4hir]

Possibly a strap hinge.....?

Thanks for the tip. I'll compare to the other strap hinge I found at the site and see.

 

[invent4hir]

Looks like a possible hole, if it is I'll go with the part of a strap hinge.

View attachment 2213566

Thanks, I took a closer look but no hole was observed there. With the one end curled over, a hinge of some sort did come to mind and I plan to re-think that.

 

[invent4hir]

Kinda wants to be a gouge or chisel.

I've seen draw knives with handles rat tangs peened over to secure them.
Yours looks more decorative but would secure handle. Meaning it doesn't look pounded on with a harder item. Though a wooden maul or even a round of wood could have been used to thump it.

Given the left end in the top pic is both rounded and tapered, a chisel is quite possible. I did find another chisel on site and compare the thickness of the blades.

 

[invent4hir]

This thing is only about 6" long.
Reminds me of a firesteel.

Either an old small file or a firesteel.

Thanks for suggesting firesteel (aka strike-a-light).

 

[invent4hir]

Here are some pics comparing the artifact in question to a chisel & strap hinge found on site and also a modern file in my tool box. Perhaps it was a 2-in-1 (a file that was also used as a chisel).

 

[Gare]

Sure does look like a old file