Pickle fork

[allen]

Found this item about a week ago
and was told it was a pickle fork.
What do you all think?

 

[trixie charger]

Could be. Does it look like it could have been longer? Tuning forks and Ball joint forks look very similar.

 

[Lucas]

Just a ordinary, everyday 18th century fork... tho I guess you could spear pickles with it. Maybe clean it first. :P

 

[allen]

Could be. Does it look like it could have been longer? Tuning forks and Ball joint forks look very similar.

I think it was longer, but only found that part.

Just a ordinary, everyday 18th century fork... tho I guess you could spear pickles with it. Maybe clean it first. :P

LOL, yeah im not using it even after cleaning it..

 

[AU24K]

A "pickle fork" is also known as a ball joint seperator. I have never seen ball joints that small...
I vote no, that it is not a "pickle fork."

Best,
Scott

 

[soupie]

Found one similar,could be an exact match but hard to say from pics.
I found mine at a union civil war camp site in Missouri,and was told it was a 2 pronged fork for eating with...
It is pictured below
Nice find and HH
Soup

 

[rginn]

Got me. It's not a tuning fork and ball joint forks are heavier and graduated in thickness up the tines as you just hammer them in more so than pry with them. However, it's interesting that this item has an upsloping ridge above the tines, which looks like it might have been handy for prying something.

 

[kuger]

As Lucas said,and 18th cent. EATING fork,we find them all the time.

 

[allen]

So, I should say this is solved and its an eating fork then.
Thanks everyone for the input and ID!!

 

[steelheadwill]

Found one very similar in size and design.
was found same depth & area of 1844 Large Cent.
Love old iron utensils!

 

[ivan salis]

early to mid 1800 plain ole2 tine type eating fork *

pickle forks often have barbed ends to hold onto the "speared" pickles -- in "high class" full cutlery sets in the early to mid 1800's era there were often several "specialty" spoons and forks -- having these sort items meant you were --upper crust type folks doing "fine dining"-- pickle forks fall into this class.

plain 2 tine general dining forks of the time look like small "meat turner type forks" like yours

around the time of the civil war -- 3 tine forks became popular and 4 tine forks came into favor in the very late 1800 early 1900 era.

modern ball joint forks since they have two tines similar to the old "pickle forks" of old are often nick named "pickle forks"

 

[Lucas]

Well that's the general trend, yeah, but these are extremely common in the 18th c., and you will find 3 and 4 tine forks (made like spoons or modern forks) in the 18th c. as well. But 2-tine like this were definitely in use thru the Civil War.

 

[kuger]

Well that's the general trend, yeah, but these are extremely common in the 18th c., and you will find 3 and 4 tine forks (made like spoons or modern forks) in the 18th c. as well. But 2-tine like this were definitely in use thru the Civil War.

Agreed,pre war as well

 

[Unicorn]

Usually pickle forks are larger. I would suggest that it had, had a handle originally, and was a carving fork.


U.

 

[kuger]

Usually pickle forks are larger. I would suggest that it had, had a handle originally, and was a carving fork.


U.

Read above

 

[Unicorn]

Ooops!!!!

 

[watercolor]

Well that's the general trend, yeah, but these are extremely common in the 18th c., and you will find 3 and 4 tine forks (made like spoons or modern forks) in the 18th c. as well. But 2-tine like this were definitely in use thru the Civil War.

Agreed,pre war as well

You got my vote as well.

I found this similar-looking fork this fall (from pre-1830 fur-trade activity).

 

[kuger]

Well that's the general trend, yeah, but these are extremely common in the 18th c., and you will find 3 and 4 tine forks (made like spoons or modern forks) in the 18th c. as well. But 2-tine like this were definitely in use thru the Civil War.

Agreed,pre war as well

You got my vote as well.

That is an awesome piece!!Mine all come from 1850's sites and none in that shape!!

I found this similar-looking fork this fall (from pre-1830 fur-trade activity).

 

[Sabot]

Well that's the general trend, yeah, but these are extremely common in the 18th c., and you will find 3 and 4 tine forks (made like spoons or modern forks) in the 18th c. as well. But 2-tine like this were definitely in use thru the Civil War.

Great observation Rich!