Cast iron star thingamajig

[simulant]

Found this at the local park which has a lot of history. It's a 3-dimensional star - cast iron, I believe - with some good weight to it.

Based on my preliminary searching I think it may be a caltrop, but what do you all think?

And thanks!!

 

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[Back-of-the-boat]

Maybe an ornamental piece off of a broken cast iron fence or gate.

 

[TheCannonballGuy]

I agree, an ornamental item. It is definitely NOT a Caltrop (horse-crippler), because an actual Caltrop ALWAYS has ONLY four spines/arms. See the images below, which show an actual Caltrop.

As you see in the images, the way a Caltrop "works is that its four spines/arms are arranged in a Tetrahedral (pyramid) pattern so that the Caltrop will ALWAYS sit on the ground with one spine pointing straight upward, to impale a horse's hoof or a soldier's foot.

Ebay is full of six-armed objects being sold as a "civil war Caltrop"... but they're not, because you cannot make those objects sit with one arm pointing straight upward. Instead, those six-armed objects sit with the arms pointing sideways -- you could step on one of them barefooted, and although it would hurt, it won't pierce the skin of your foot. I'll include a photo of a group of "not-Caltrops" from Ebay, showing the six arms, which are not sharp enough to pierce your skin. In actuality, they are Tumbler-Media, from the Metalcasting Industry. Folks, please don't buy a 5-or-6-or-7-or-8-arms object as a Caltrop (which always has only four arms/spines.

 

[simulant]

Sounds spot on guys, thanks a lot!

 

[ATpro5]

I agree, an ornamental item. It is definitely NOT a Caltrop (horse-crippler), because an actual Caltrop ALWAYS has ONLY four spines/arms. See the images below, which show an actual Caltrop.

As you see in the images, the way a Caltrop "works is that its four spines/arms are arranged in a Tetrahedral (pyramid) pattern so that the Caltrop will ALWAYS sit on the ground with one spine pointing straight upward, to impale a horse's hoof or a soldier's foot.

Ebay is full of six-armed objects being sold as a "civil war Caltrop"... but they're not, because you cannot make those objects sit with one arm pointing straight upward. Instead, those six-armed objects sit with the arms pointing sideways -- you could step on one of them barefooted, and although it would hurt, it won't pierce the skin of your foot. I'll include a photo of a group of "not-Caltrops" from Ebay, showing the six arms, which are not sharp enough to pierce your skin. In actuality, they are Tumbler-Media, from the Metalcasting Industry. Folks, please don't buy a 5-or-6-or-7-or-8-arms object as a Caltrop (which always has only four arms/spines.

Tcg, I must say... you have a vast wealth of knowledge. Sometimes you baffle me with your posts. This forum wouldn't be the same without you haha

 

[simulant]

Agreed!! Very informative answer as usual!

 

[ATpro5]

I don't feel like he gets as much appreciation as he deserves. There's not many people out there that would give you a 3 paragraph history on a item without trying to charge you something.

 

[TheCannonballGuy]

ATpro5, your final sentence (above) is a big part of the reason I do what I do here in the What Is It forum. I've been a relic digger for fully 40 years, and a relic-dealer nearly that long. Way back in my early "newcomer nobody" years of relic hunting, I was given a LOT of free relic-ID help by a couple of kindhearted oldtimer diggers, and even a Dealer. If they instead had said "Go away kid, don't bother me"... I would not be where I am in the relic world now. What I do here is a form of "paying forward" their kindness to me.

Also, as you may have noticed, most relic-dealers "don't have the time" to talk to you except when you are buying something from them. Throughout my relic-dealing career, I did the research necessary to make sure as possible that I was putting the correct ID label on my sales-items, so that I wouldn't have to worry about a rightfully-angry customer coming back to me. I feel I should give away the knowledge, for free, like it was given to me.

Let me encourage y'all that ANY of you is capable of doing what I did. I know my IQ is not above average. A high IQ is not required. Instead, it's about being "hungry for Knowledge." Here are some suggestions on how to get it.

Buy the various relic-reference books, and learn them. For example:
"American Military Button Makers And Dealers; Their Backmarks & Dates"
and
"A Handbook Of Civil War Bullets & Cartridges"

Also, if somebody posts an excellent Educational link, save it into your Favorites folder. For example:
THE CARTRIDGE COLLECTOR
and
Diana's Buttons - Reference - British Navy Buttons

Also, read the What Is It forum daily, and save the posted photos WITH THE CORRECT ID in the title you put on the saved imagefile. (For example: "button_US_Marines_brass_2-piece_backmark-Scovills&Co_1840-50.jpg".)

Also, go to relic-shows and antique-shows, and take the time to closely examine the METAL parts on the various non-excavated objects. I guarantee you will recognize some "pieces-&-parts" you've dug.

 

[N.O. noir et d'or]

ATpro5, your final sentence (above) is a big part of the reason I do what I do here in the What Is It forum. I've been a relic digger for fully 40 years, and a relic-dealer nearly that long. Way back in my early "newcomer nobody" years of relic hunting, I was given a LOT of free relic-ID help by a couple of kindhearted oldtimer diggers, and even a Dealer. If they instead had said "Go away kid, don't bother me"... I would not be where I am in the relic world now. What I do here is a form of "paying forward" their kindness to me. Also, as you may have noticed, most relic-dealers "don't have the time" to talk to you except when you are buying something from them. Throughout my relic-dealing career, I did the research necessary to make sure as possible that I was putting the correct ID label on my sales-items, so that I wouldn't have to worry about a rightfully-angry customer coming back to me. I feel I should give away the knowledge, for free, like it was given to me. Let me encourage y'all that ANY of you is capable of doing what I did. I know my IQ is not above average. A high IQ is not required. Instead, it's about being "hungry for Knowledge." Here are some suggestions on how to get it. Buy the various relic-reference books, and learn them. For example: "American Military Button Makers And Dealers; Their Backmarks & Dates" and "A Handbook Of Civil War Bullets & Cartridges" Also, if somebody posts an excellent Educational link, save it into your Favorites folder. For example: THE CARTRIDGE COLLECTOR and Diana's Buttons - Reference - British Navy Buttons Also, read the What Is It forum daily, and save the posted photos WITH THE CORRECT ID in the title you put on the saved imagefile. (For example: "button_US_Marines_brass_2-piece_backmark-Scovills&Co_1840-50.jpg".) Also, go to relic-shows and antique-shows, and take the time to closely examine the METAL parts on the various non-excavated objects. I guarantee you will recognize some "pieces-&-parts" you've dug.

A sincere thank you CBG for the advice and an even bigger thank you for your wonderful explanation as to the reasons for your continued, outstanding assistance to us all. I must say that this assuages a tiny bit of guilt that I feel when I read your postings. As much as I've learned from you, and it all being one-sided, does seem somewhat unfair. We are truly lucky that your philosophy has given us the benefit of such a wealth of knowledge of Civil War artifacts. Said philosophy also clarifies why all of your postings never possess even the hint of arrogance despite your vastly superior knowledge. Also, I suspect someone who recognizes and is bestowing kindness from and to others is a good-hearted person in total.
Again much appreciation and many thanks for what you continue to do for us! NOND

 

[ATpro5]

ATpro5, your final sentence (above) is a big part of the reason I do what I do here in the What Is It forum. I've been a relic digger for fully 40 years, and a relic-dealer nearly that long. Way back in my early "newcomer nobody" years of relic hunting, I was given a LOT of free relic-ID help by a couple of kindhearted oldtimer diggers, and even a Dealer. If they instead had said "Go away kid, don't bother me"... I would not be where I am in the relic world now. What I do here is a form of "paying forward" their kindness to me.

Also, as you may have noticed, most relic-dealers "don't have the time" to talk to you except when you are buying something from them. Throughout my relic-dealing career, I did the research necessary to make sure as possible that I was putting the correct ID label on my sales-items, so that I wouldn't have to worry about a rightfully-angry customer coming back to me. I feel I should give away the knowledge, for free, like it was given to me.

Let me encourage y'all that ANY of you is capable of doing what I did. I know my IQ is not above average. A high IQ is not required. Instead, it's about being "hungry for Knowledge." Here are some suggestions on how to get it.

Buy the various relic-reference books, and learn them. For example:
"American Military Button Makers And Dealers; Their Backmarks & Dates"
and
"A Handbook Of Civil War Bullets & Cartridges"

Also, if somebody posts an excellent Educational link, save it into your Favorites folder. For example:
THE CARTRIDGE COLLECTOR
and
Diana's Buttons - Reference - British Navy Buttons

Also, read the What Is It forum daily, and save the posted photos WITH THE CORRECT ID in the title you put on the saved imagefile. (For example: "button_US_Marines_brass_2-piece_backmark-Scovills&Co_1840-50.jpg".)

Also, go to relic-shows and antique-shows, and take the time to closely examine the METAL parts on the various non-excavated objects. I guarantee you will recognize some "pieces-&-parts" you've dug.

I get what you mean. Its good to have the hunger for knowledge and learn everyday.I knew every US coin including colonials by the age of 14. I read my redbook at least 15 times over... I don't know why. Numismatics and stuff have always interested me haha. And it sure does feel good when you can help someone else out with a ID. Always great to share what you know with others. Before I joined this site, I knew hardly anything about metal detecting... now I know a good bit. I owe it to all the helpful members on here.