Need to know, ok so what is it?

[CoinandRelicMan]

Have had this item gathering dust for a number of years in my drawer. Time to bust it out and find out. Hope someone can help. It has obviously seen a lots of use. Seems like some kind of hanger, but for what? That is my question...

TIA
CARM

 

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[CRUSADER]

I forget the name but its horse harness equipment

 

[TheCannonballGuy]

Have had this item gathering dust for a number of years in my drawer. Time to bust it out and find out. Hope someone can help. It has obviously seen a lots of use. Seems like some kind of hanger, but for what? That is my question...

TIA
CARM

It is called a gag loop swivel, or "gag chain," from horse-harness. Based on illustrations in late-1800s horsegear mail-order catalogs, the particular form of yours dates as far back as that era. Insofar as I'm currently aware, none of your version have been spotted in Civil War era photographs. Very important info: They are still being manufactured and sold today. Here's a photo of a modernday one, from an Internet horsegear sales website ...and also, a scan from an old horsegear catalog (originally posted by Creskol, our fellow T-Netter and horsegear expert).

 

[TheCannonballGuy]

Trying (for the 4th time) to get the second image to post.

 

[TheCannonballGuy]

The imagefile STILL won't show in the post. It is a 22.9Kb .jpg imagefile, which I've posted here at TreasureNet in the past with no trouble under the OLD forum software. 4nines, what's going on here? This sucks.

 

[CoinandRelicMan]

Thanks for the replies!Gag chain ,only one I've ever found. They must not have been used much out this way.

CARM