Old square spike from Illinois

[jjbswfl]

Square spike found in old Illinois town several inches underground. Any ideas to age? seems square and irregular. top seems to be rose shaped.

 

[Almy]

You're probably not getting replies because it is a toughie. It looks like rusted iron with a spade tip and a top that might have been beaten on a little. So it could be a spike, a tool, or a broken piece of something larger. It's probably not possible to identify exactly. I've found unidentifiable iron objects and others have been posted here. Don't be discouraged, just keep swinging and something identifiable and great will be yours!

 

[jjbswfl]

You're probably not getting replies because it is a toughie. It looks like rusted iron with a spade tip and a top that might have been beaten on a little. So it could be a spike, a tool, or a broken piece of something larger. It's probably not possible to identify exactly. I've found unidentifiable iron objects and others have been posted here. Don't be discouraged, just keep swinging and something identifiable and great will be yours!

No problem thanks for the information. I know som things can never be identified, but was just trying to see if it looked modern or not. Happy hunting!

 

[ARC]

Early hand forged nail / spike.

 

[ticndig]

I used to to find those spike along the orange plank rd . during the 1800s some roads were covered in planks . they are sometimes called corduroy roads. is that what your spike is from? who knows . do some research of your town and see if this could be the answer .

 

[jjbswfl]

I used to to find those spike along the orange plank rd . during the 1800s some roads were covered in planks . they are sometimes called corduroy roads. is that what your spike is from? who knows . do some research of your town and see if this could be the answer .

The town is an old mining town. It was found in an area where a mine sunk in.

 

[jjbswfl]

Early hand forged nail / spike.

Early as in 1800s? 1900s? The town was incorporated in 1868. Could it be 1800s? Anything unique about the style?

 

[villagenut]

I agree with ARC.....here area few from one of my old sites from the 1840s. Yours could be older, noway to tell without more evidence found nearby.

 

[CRUSADER]

Could be 1700s, could be 1800s, but not 1900s.

 

[ticndig]

The town is an old mining town. It was found in an area where a mine sunk in.

maybe the mine had a rail line or maybe the spike came from bracing timbers , we will never know the use for sure .

 

[jjbswfl]

I was wondering if maybe it came from a bracing timber. Cool!

 

[jjbswfl]

I agree with ARC.....here area few from one of my old sites from the 1840s. Yours could be older, noway to tell without more evidence found nearby.View attachment 2057032

how did you clean them up so nice?

 

[villagenut]

Electrolysis followed by a long repeated soaking in distilled water, bake dry and coated

 

[villagenut]

Once you start cleaning old forged iron you will find it to be very exciting to get to the end product.

 

[villagenut]

here are some before and after pics of some others that can give you an idea of the transformation......