Thoughts on this gimlet tool...

[Swartzie]

I dug this item a couple miles from Ohio's only Revolutionary War fort (Ft. Laurens). It was found near a river crossing that was used back then. The same crossing was also used in a 1764 military expedition (Bouquet). My understanding is the tool was used to clean the touch hole of a musket. I also included a picture I found online of a tool that matches mine with the caption "Rev war 18th century" http://www.worthpoint.com/worthopedia/rev-war-18th-century-iron-gimlet-tool-hand So, now this has me excited thinking I may have dug an item that dates to the Revolutionary War.

The tool measures 4" in length. The handle is 2" and the diameter of the shaft is 3/16".

Any thoughts on if this piece dates to the Revolutionary War?

-Swartzie

 

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[civilman1]

They used these in the Civil War to twist broken pieces of frtiction primer's out of the vent holes in cannon's.Cool find