UFO with interesting insignia/maker's mark

[Dougie Webb]

Another find in the area where I think a blacksmith lived from around 1850-1900 or so. Don't know if this is related. But I'm stumped. I was gonna write it off as Unidentified Found Object, but as I cleaned it, I started to see it shine a little and also started to make out what looked like tiny markings. The whole piece is only about 1x2 inches, and my best guess is that the circular insignia is only 2.5 mm across.

Rings up a solid 89-90 on the Ace 200, which is usually the domain of aluminum cans and dollar coins and silver. Specific gravity of 5.2. Cannot scratch with a penny, but a pocket knife does the job.

Thanks as always!

No markings on this side.



I've circled the insignia and what appears to be the letters H and I (Maybe L? Could be LH for Left Hand? It does appear to be one side of something.)



Close-up of insignia

 

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[Gene Mean]

Interesting with the detail inside and the corrosion outside

 

[Anduril]

As to the insignia, it looks like one of those old-timey logos, where they stack all the letters on top of each other.
(I know.... how original?) But I guess that was in vogue back then?

I definitely see a "W", and what looks like "A", and maybe "I" & "H"?

 

[Dougie Webb]

As to the insignia, it looks like one of those old-timey logos, where they stack all the letters on top of each other.
(I know.... how original?) But I guess that was in vogue back then?

I definitely see a "W", and what looks like "A", and maybe "I" & "H"?

Interesting - that makes a lot of sense...don't know what else it would be, you know? I found the census record from 1870 for the family who lived there and ran the mill. I'll take a look at the family members first names and see if there's a correlation. Thanks!

 

[cudamark]

The outside looks a bit like some artillery shrapnel I've found in the past.

 

[Dougie Webb]

Interesting with the detail inside and the corrosion outside

Right?! That contrast is pretty cool. Not to mention the detail on that insignia - how the heck did he do that?!

 

[Dougie Webb]

The outside looks a bit like some artillery shrapnel I've found in the past.

I thought about that too, it has that look, although I know *nothing* about militaria. Does the inside make sense given that scenario?

 

[cudamark]

I don't know much about it either. When I first found some years ago, I had to have someone tell me what it was. Cannonballguy will probably be the one to help if that's what it is.

 

[bradyboy]

my first thought is a wedge used in a wood axe / maul handle wedge -hammered into the split end to secure handle to tool head.
brady

 

[DCMatt]

As to the insignia, it looks like one of those old-timey logos, where they stack all the letters on top of each other.
(I know.... how original?) But I guess that was in vogue back then?

I definitely see a "W", and what looks like "A", and maybe "I" & "H"?

Your logo pic is upside down.

I photo shopped it a bit. Definitely intertwined initials. M C with a line through the center. These things make me crazy.

It has a very art deco sort of look to my eye. 1930 - 40's. My first thought was 'battery compartment cover'. Like for a small flashlight...

 

[Dougie Webb]

my first thought is a wedge used in a wood axe / maul handle wedge -hammered into the split end to secure handle to tool head.
brady

I had to google it, but I can see the similarity. I think it's probably a bit too big for that tho. Thanks man.

 

[Dougie Webb]

I photo shopped it a bit. Definitely intertwined initials. M C with a line through the center. These things make me crazy.

Thanks Matt! I flipped it every single way and couldn't figure out which way it went to save my life. I can barely read my own handwriting, let alone somebody else's cryptogram. The art deco comment makes sense, and that pretty much rules out anything homemade, so looking at the initials of the "pioneers" who lived here would be useless.

Now that I realize it's essentially worthless, I'm going to try to get more of the "weathering" off of it. As I was sanding it a little yesterday, I began to see a bit of a brass-type color in a few places.

 

[Dougie Webb]

DCM - the end of the one on top doesn't look too far off at all. And it appears a lot of these were made of copper, so that would explain the color.