Old Iron Spike Lever Thing

Bramblefind · Aug 16, 2011

Is that the right ID for this?

I found it this morning at a beautiful cellar hole deep in the woods - unfortunately I think it has been hunted over quite a bit so I am left with the iron. But this is pretty cool. About 17 inches long. That is a nickel coin in the pic.

Breezie · Aug 16, 2011

Bramble, do you think it was bent like this originally or do you think it was straight? I have no idea, but it looks like it was hand wrought. Interesting, Breezie

Bramblefind · Aug 16, 2011

Thanks Breezie

I originally thought it was bent but now I'm leaning toward made that way. I really don't know though.

Such a pretty place I found it at!

M_M · Aug 16, 2011

The square head reminds me of a book telling the evolution of nails. "A Reverence For Wood" By Eric Sloane

The first nails didn't have heads until they were hammered for the first time. The first pounding gave them a little flattened ridge. The second generation of nails I believe had the square head.

This spike being long, could have been used to hold a tent down. It could also have been bent trying to pry or lift rocks by standing and jumping on. Seeing the tip has it's own bends I would think it was wedged into a box to pry it open and as more of it got into the box the leverage spot moved. That part is all wishful speculation as I've been reading about treasure chests all morning.

Silver Searcher · Aug 16, 2011

Looks like it's been hit with a hammer, so I doubt it was made that way, I wonder if it was some type of log splitter :dontknow:

SS

Bramblefind · Aug 16, 2011

M_M said:
The square head reminds me of a book telling the evolution of nails. "A Reverence For Wood" By Eric Sloane

The first nails didn't have heads until they were hammered for the first time. The first pounding gave them a little flattened ridge. The second generation of nails I believe had the square head.

This spike being long, could have been used to hold a tent down. It could also have been bent trying to pry or lift rocks by standing and jumping on. Seeing the tip has it's own bends I would think it was wedged into a box to pry it open and as more of it got into the box the leverage spot moved. That part is all wishful speculation as I've been reading about treasure chests all morning.

Thank you!

I like the reference - I actually skimmed the Slone "Musuem of Early American Tools" book before I posted!

stefen said:
Could be a lightning rod

Very interesting idea!

Silver Searcher said:
Looks like it's been hit with a hammer, so I doubt it was made that way, I wonder if it was some type of log splitter

SS

I think I've been out in the woods too long today b/c it took me a while to process what you are saying but I think you might be right .. or on the right track :icon_thumleft:

Lots of logging was done in this area.

The head of the spike is about 1/2" on each side so it is not the heftiest thing though... probably not a surprise it buckled.

bradyboy · Aug 16, 2011

Grounding spike?
For lighting strikes, house ground?
Brady

Tigger · Aug 16, 2011

If some of the logger relic hunters don't chime in, you can repost to the relic forum - there's guys that drag huge logging chains out of the woods that post there.

I especially like your attitude - "I found it this morning at a beautiful cellar hole deep in the woods - unfortunately I think it has been hunted over quite a bit so I am left with the iron. But this is pretty cool."

High Plains Digger · Aug 16, 2011

It looks like a 16th century beam spike. We stopped at an old church in England where they were taking the roof off down to the top of the walls. After talking with the workers, and being invited up on the scaffolding, he reaches over, pulls a spike out of the beam (yes, the oak was that rotten) and gave it to me. Still treasure it. The last roof and beams had been put on in 1560.

lumbercamp · Aug 16, 2011

It may be a cribbing spike used to join timber to timber. Most of the ones i find are 12" to 14". The longest I found were 22" and these were along an old logging rr grade that had to cross a wet area on a hillside, probably tied together thicker timber. Quite a few are bent as are rr spikes that are removed when rails are taken out.