Dating Ship Wreck Nails

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billlybob

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Dec 21, 2008
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Dating Ship Wreck Nails

Does anyone know of a book that can use to help date some nails or spikes from ship wrecks? There appears to be a lot of different types (square, round …etc) made of different material (iron, brass, bronze, copper). I think it would be really cool to be able to date them.

I saw a page of a book that can be used to date cannons and I expect there is something out there on the types of nails/spikes that were used on different ships during different periods in time.

Thanks
 

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Round head with round shaft usually older pre 18th C then square head square shaft from mid 18th through modern times, thats my best understanding, there are some variations and iron spikes lean towards old vessels, again not always, youre right on the book, however I dont think there are too many exact references, I may be wrong. GFH
 

I have a book called Ships' Fastenings from sewn boat to steamship by Michael McCarthy. It is the best I've seen on the subject. It has about 200 pages of sketches and information about nails, spikes, sheathing, etc....Lots of info to help date a wreck.
 

I've gotta spike I've been trying to identify. Spikes are sized/graded differently than nails. I've worked with antique cut nails in Savannah, and ship spikes are quite different.
 

billinstuart said:
I've gotta spike I've been trying to identify. Spikes are sized/graded differently than nails. I've worked with antique cut nails in Savannah, and ship spikes are quite different.
Click to expand...

Let me know if you have any good references. Thanks
 

me know if you have any good references. Thanks

Did you ever find "pictures" or any more information about these nails?...I have a rather large "spike" we found. Square body, round top. We found it in the great lakes of MI, while snorkeling...I have searched and found nothing about it..or anything that resembles it..
 

Ship builders used round and square bronze spikes and nails from the Roman days until the 19th century.
 

I'd suggest a nice day at the park with a light picnic and maybe a matinee afterwards.



I’m so sorry, I just couldn’t resist!!
:laughing9:
 

My first thought when I read the title of this thread was, "Why would anyone want to go out with a shipwreck nail?"

OK, I really didn't get enough sleep last night.
 

bantfarm said:
me know if you have any good references. Thanks

Did you ever find "pictures" or any more information about these nails?...I have a rather large "spike" we found. Square body, round top. We found it in the great lakes of MI, while snorkeling...I have searched and found nothing about it..or anything that resembles it..
Click to expand...

i also found a square nail and what appears to be roundish head, it's possibly what they call a "rose head boat nail" ,this one is 110x7mm very approximately, hard to tell for the rust, from the Miami River. I understand these are still used to build "clinker" aka lapstrake type wooden boats. I know of one company in Scotland still making them. They recommend them for docks and wooden structures in water, gates, etc. as well, since the square nail grips better as the wood swells, it is said.

The historical museum in miami has a large one on display from a spanish galleon, if i recall rightly.

http://www.glasgowsteelnail.com/Boats.htm
 

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