🔎 UNIDENTIFIED Ohio River Brass Item

[Mkriegs]

While cleaning out the garage, found a brass/wood artifact I found diving in the Ohio River several years ago. Suspect it may be part of an oar? Unfortunately the brass patina was altered when I soaked it to preserve the wood.

 

[justnotradium]

Looks a lot like a whaling bomb lance, but I doubt that as you have found it in the Ohio River. It doesn’t appear to be a part of an oar as I cannot find any vintage oars online that have brass on them. Part of a handlebar of a steamboat is possible, but I doubt it. Are there any markings?

 

[Almy]

Just from looking at it, the rotted-off wood is likely a pole like a flagpole. The bottom part with the rectangular hole in the side would go into a receptacle on a boat deck or a dock. The rectangular hole would receive a pin or dog to hold it in place.

 

[ToddsPoint]

Just from looking at it, the rotted-off wood is likely a pole like a flagpole. The bottom part with the rectangular hole in the side would go into a receptacle on a boat deck or a dock. The rectangular hole would receive a pin or dog to hold it in place.

It could be a coupler to hook two poles together.

 

[Mkriegs]

There are no markings. I suspect @Almy and @ToddsPoint spointmay be on the right track and there is another brass piece that it fits into.