Central Nevada find - Iron stake?

tomtom

Greenie
Apr 10, 2013
17
23
Boise, ID
Detector(s) used
Minelab Equinox and an old Whites 6000di.
Primary Interest:
Metal Detecting
I found this last week in Central Nevada. It's 11.5" long x 2.5" in width. The hole is 3/4" in diameter. W.REBMAN is stamped into the shank.

I have searched online but found nothing even close. At first glance, it looks like a tent stake to me but who knows.

Anyone seen one of these before?
 

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I found this last week in Central Nevada. It's 11.5" long x 2.5" in width. The hole is 3/4" in diameter. W.REBMAN is stamped into the shank.

I have searched online but found nothing even close. At first glance, it looks like a tent stake to me but who knows.

Anyone seen one of these before?
Does anyone have any ideas what this might be?
 

Looks to be some type of tie-down stake, although the stake part looks awful short in comparison to the size of that eye.
 

Maybe used in timber construction, such as in mine. I have seen objects somewhat similar in cribs used in waterways during log driving days.
 

Maybe used in timber construction, such as in mine. I have seen objects somewhat similar in cribs used in waterways during log driving days.
I found it in an area that had mining activity in the 1860's so that's logical. It's a large and heavy piece for sure.
 

I'd like to see a few more pics from different angles.

I'm also having difficulty making out the last 2 letters; is there any possibility it could be other than REBMAN ?

Perusing images of 19th C mining tools, I don't see anything similar, but it does look (to me) like either an anchor (piton?) of some sort, or a tool handle. :dontknow:
 

I'd like to see a few more pics from different angles.

I'm also having difficulty making out the last 2 letters; is there any possibility it could be other than REBMAN ?

Perusing images of 19th C mining tools, I don't see anything similar, but it does look (to me) like either an anchor (piton?) of some sort, or a tool handle. :dontknow:

Here's a few more images with a ruler so you can get actual size. Definitely looks like it says W.REBMAN after cleaning it up a bit.
 

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Now I'm wondering if Rebman was the guy who made that specialized tool, and put his name on it to prove ownership.
 

Now I'm wondering if Rebman was the guy who made that specialized tool, and put his name on it to prove ownership.
That name was stamped using a single strike so it seems more like a mass produced item. I can't believe that I have been unable to find a photo of another one or that nobody else has ever seen one.
 

That name was stamped using a single strike so it seems more like a mass produced item. I can't believe that I have been unable to find a photo of another one or that nobody else has ever seen one.
That's why I'm thinking it may be a one-off.
It doesn't look mass-produced to me unless a part of it was, and then modified/reinforced (widened handle?) Hard to say from pics alone.

Can you tell if the bend (edge view) was intentional/original or later damage/deformity?
 

That's why I'm thinking it may be a one-off.
It doesn't look mass-produced to me unless a part of it was, and then modified/reinforced (widened handle?) Hard to say from pics alone.

Can you tell if the bend (edge view) was intentional/original or later damage/deformity?
The bend in it looks intentional...it's a pretty chunky piece of steel . It doesn't appear to have been hammered into the ground as the ring portion isn't deformed.

There was a carnival supplier on the east coast called Rebman but that was started much later in 1919. The area I found this was active in the 1860's.

 

The bend in it looks intentional...it's a pretty chunky piece of steel . It doesn't appear to have been hammered into the ground as the ring portion isn't deformed.

There was a carnival supplier on the east coast called Rebman but that was started much later in 1919. The area I found this was active in the 1860's.
Yeah, that sounds like a couple generations difference.

I'm still leaning toward a specialized tool--I just don't know what. If the inside of the ring were a hexagon, it'd be easy--we could call it a wrench and call it a day. I'm scratchin' my noggin :icon_scratch: trying to figure out what the ring would go over or hold down. :dontknow:
 

I found this last week in Central Nevada. It's 11.5" long x 2.5" in width. The hole is 3/4" in diameter. W.REBMAN is stamped into the shank.

I have searched online but found nothing even close. At first glance, it looks like a tent stake to me but who knows.

Anyone seen one of these before?
Nice!!! Congrats!!!
 

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