unknown star

[sonny60]

found this yesterday at an old house. it is made of some kind of metal and about the size of a silver dollar. no markings. any ideas appreciated. thanks

 

[ivan salis]

yours is a "horse lamer" --there were horse lamers and also anti infantry types of caltrops (they were more nail like ) used in the civil war--- (these wicked devils have been around in various forms since the middle ages-- the french resistance even used home made type ones made from nails to stop nazi vehicles when setting up "ambushes" in WW2 to flatten tires) -- no fun at all for horses or folks to step on -- think of running toward a enemy line across a feild sown with these nail / spike type caltrops in it --not my idea of fun --you can't afford look "down" because you have to "see" whos shooting at you to avoid getting shot and to shoot back at them -- so you run "blindly" forward till you step on one the caltrops maiming yourself and making you a sitting duck -- Ivan

 

[able_walker]

I need me a handful of those......roll some under the tires of that aggressive driver that just cut you off..smile and wave "Have a nice day"....

 

[Mackaydon]

Some 'modern' uses of caltrops:

Caltrops have been used at times during labor strikes and other disputes. Such devices were used by some to destroy the tires of management and replacement workers.

Caltrops were used in the Vietnam War, sometimes with poison or manure on the points.

Because of the prevalence of caltrops during the Caterpillar strike of the mid-1990s, the state of Illinois passed a law making the possession of such devices a misdemeanor.

In the 1970s, activists in the United States deployed caltrops against the tires of logging trucks. Earth First! quickly condemned the practice, seeing it as a hazard to humans and animals.

In the distant past, Alexander the Great used the devices against the Persians. At other times, they have been used in armies against camels and elephants.

.http://www.timesdaily.com/apps/pbcs.dll/section?category=NEWS&template=wiki&text=caltrop

 

[Montana Jim]

Nice PBK!

I stepped on one long ago, which explains why I'm lame.

Tony

Tony!! You are the coolest lame one of us all... 8)

 

[savant365]

My kids just used lego's on me, step on one of those bare footed on your way to the bathroom in the middle of the night...

 

[sonny60]

it was 4 inches deep in the yard of an old house. The Union army passed this way during the civil war on their retreat fron Gen. John H. Morgan. Thanks for all the comments. I feel like I have a really good find.

 

[Montana Jim]

My kids just used lego's on me, step on one of those bare footed on your way to the bathroom in the middle of the night...

LMAO

it was 4 inches deep in the yard of an old house. The Union army passed this way during the civil war on their retreat fron Gen. John H. Morgan. Thanks for all the comments. I feel like I have a really good find.

It is a great find! Congrats!

 

[Baggins]

That's a really cool find....I can't imagine using those to stop a horse....OUCH!
HH
Sean

 

[gollum]

My kids just used lego's on me, step on one of those bare footed on your way to the bathroom in the middle of the night...

Lego's: Better known as the "Pop Crippler"

Mike

 

[Jim West Pa]

My kids just used lego's on me, step on one of those bare footed on your way to the bathroom in the middle of the night...

Lego's: Better known as the "Pop Crippler"

Mike

MMmmmm...... wonder of dat's better or worse than what my puppy sometimes leaves for me to step in in the middle of the nite eeewwwwwwwwwwww

 

[WV_Digger]

Versions of this are still used especially in areas where there ae coal mine strikes. In West Virginia they are called jack-rocks. They are made a lot of the time with spike nails, will rip apart a tire on a car or a coal truck.