Possible Civil War Find. What is it?

[Poptopagain]

I was out detecting at the local backyard battlefield and came across this. At first I thought that it was a piece of twisted electrical wire and threw it on the trash side of my pouch. After several days of being in the pouch, I took a closer look at it and realized that it was solid brass not insulated copper wire. There is a very dark patina on it. So I'm thinking that it was civil war related based on its age and location found. I'm not sure what it belongs to and asked a buddy to look in his artifact book. Does anyone know what this is? Or what it belongs to?

I threw a quarter in the pic for a size reference.

Thanks!

 

[Wldbil]

Try putting it in the whats it section and I am sure you get some suggestions.

 

[savant365]

I'm not sure what the old ones were made out of but it kinda looks like the middle part of a snaffle bit like the one in this link

http://www.equisearch.com/horses_riding_training/tack_apparel/bit_gallery/twistsnaffle/

 

[55th Massachusetts]

How about a pic of the whole item. Could possibly be a gun cleaning piece.
REB

 

[Erik in NJ]

We need to talk! Big Klein Tools fan here too! I have a couple of those gorgeous old crimpers.

 

[Poptopagain]

Thanks for all of the suggestions. I put it on the What is it forum. Then saw this posting of a splice. Did they make them out of brass? It looks very similar.

 

[{Sentinel}]

How about a pic of the whole item. Could possibly be a gun cleaning piece.
REB

I agree with 55th Mass. There were Civil War gun cleaning tangs that looked MUCH like this piece but it could be a splice like SWR mentioned above. Here's a pic of a variant of the gun cleaning tool that we're talking about. There were different styles, this is just one of the many:

 

[EagleDown]

Thanks for all of the suggestions. I put it on the What is it forum. Then saw this posting of a splice. Did they make them out of brass? It looks very similar.

It is not a splice. I would be more inclined to go with the cleaning rod. By the way, it does appear to be copper, in the picture. How did you determine that it is brass. (Brass would be used in a cleaning tool rather than copper.)

Though the picture offered looks similar, yours has two free ends showing. A splice is two copper wires twisted, then wrapped at the ends, (as in the picture offered by SWR.)

 

[Poptopagain]

I thought it was brass because it was very rigid and all of the other brass items I've dug looked like that after digging them. I will scape one of the ends and see what it looks like. I'll post another pic afterwards.

 

[ResearchandRecovery]

Just throwing this one out there... Telegraph wire.

 

[{Sentinel}]

Thanks for all of the suggestions. I put it on the What is it forum. Then saw this posting of a splice. Did they make them out of brass? It looks very similar.

It is not a splice. I would be more inclined to go with the cleaning rod. By the way, it does appear to be copper, in the picture. How did you determine that it is brass. (Brass would be used in a cleaning tool rather than copper.)

Though the picture offered looks similar, yours has two free ends showing. A splice is two copper wires twisted, then wrapped at the ends, (as in the picture offered by SWR.)

I agree and noticed that the piece in question looks alittle brasslike unlike the splice. So keep the hope alive, it could be a cleaning jag. Though the one I posted above looks alittle different, there were several different variations

 

[Yard Digger]

Just throwing this one out there... Telegraph wire.

Telegraph wire has crossed my mind too.

 

[Bigcypresshunter]

Is that Liquigirl's chain? http://forum.treasurenet.com/index.php/topic,354187.0.html

 

[spitfire55]

 

[taz42o]

I guess a electric splice could be a civil war relic . ??
'McIntire joint' .The Western Union Telegraph Company adopted its use in place of the 'Western Union joint' on the transcontinental telegraph line.
Western Union completed the transcontinental telegraph line on October 24, 1861.

http://www.civilwarhome.com/telegraph.htm

 

[Bigcypresshunter]

I guess a electric splice could be a civil war relic . ??
'McIntire joint' .The Western Union Telegraph Company adopted its use in place of the 'Western Union joint' on the transcontinental telegraph line.
Western Union completed the transcontinental telegraph line on October 24, 1861.

http://www.civilwarhome.com/telegraph.htm

I am familiar with the Western Union splice but not the 'McIntire joint'. Is that a sleeve?

 

[Bigcypresshunter]

Is that Liquigirl's chain? http://forum.treasurenet.com/index.php/topic,354187.0.html

Not a chain. This item is a twisted sleeve, typical splice

I agree with you that the item in question is a wire sleeve splice. I am referring to the bottom item in Sentinels pic.

 

[taz42o]

I guess a electric splice could be a civil war relic . ??
'McIntire joint' .The Western Union Telegraph Company adopted its use in place of the 'Western Union joint' on the transcontinental telegraph line.
Western Union completed the transcontinental telegraph line on October 24, 1861.

http://www.civilwarhome.com/telegraph.htm

I am familiar with the Western Union splice but not the 'McIntire joint'. Is that a sleeve?

Yes Mcintire joint uses copper sleeve. The ends were left open not twisted .

http://books.google.com/books?id=YT...m=8&sqi=2&ved=0CEgQ6AEwBw#v=onepage&q&f=false

 

[taz42o]

I guess a electric splice could be a civil war relic . ??
'McIntire joint' .The Western Union Telegraph Company adopted its use in place of the 'Western Union joint' on the transcontinental telegraph line.
Western Union completed the transcontinental telegraph line on October 24, 1861.

http://www.civilwarhome.com/telegraph.htm

Not trying to be difficult just wondering how you can tell the age when that type of splice has been used since before 1861?

This item is a twisted sleeve. Very much post-civil war

 

[taz42o]

Not trying to be difficult just wondering how you can tell the age when that type of splice has been used since before 1861?

Can you cite an example of copper wire/ copper sleeve being used before 1861?

No, but can say it was used long before 1930.(Patent 1885) And have read it was used by western union on transcontinental telegraph (1861)second link,but cant prove that. Also it is possible that prior to 1885 there was not a sleeve used ,just twisted wires.?
So I guess i cant prove it was used before 1861,Yet, but can you prove it was not? Not trying to say your wrong just trying to learn.


1885 patent- http://www.google.com/patents?id=_6...ages&cad=1#v=onepage&q=mcintire joint&f=false

http://www.dr-fix-it.com/arc_western_union.html