Oar lock or reins guide or?

[pa-dirt_nc-sand]

(Found at lost late 1800's homesite in the woods, but not far from small lake.)

 

[Tpmetal]

Good question, another option might be part of something to hang stuff on a bar over fire place?

 

[pa-dirt_nc-sand]

Good question, another option might be part of something to hang stuff on a bar over fire place?

That makes some sense as the shaft is too short in my opinion for an oar lock. Thx

 

[nhbenz]

Reminds me of a shift fork from a transmission... Except that it doesn’t ride on a shaft. Still maybe used in a somewhat similar way maybe?

 

[Eu_citzen]

Wishful thinking would want it to be musket fork, albeit a broken one.

Oarlock seems like a good guess to me, though.