Double headed tiny brass spike??? some help?

[GatorBoy]

Hey there guys I haven't found much of anything shipwreck related do too current Beach conditions in quite a while. I did come up with something yesterday that's pretty interesting.. and I really have no clue what it would have been used for... it seems to be solid brass and looks hand forged to me.
What would something like this have been used for?
I've found old spikes before that were bronze or brass... especially the brass ones that did the same thing this one did... it was crusted with black that when I squeezed popped right off... leaving the clean item the way you see it now.

 

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[Boatlode]

You sure its brass, GB? Looks more like copper. Nice find.

 

[GatorBoy]

Almost positive its brass.. Possibly bronze.. it had the black crust that brass gets from salt water.. With zero green normally associated with copper.

 

[GatorBoy]

Over the years I've found several in that same small area now

 

[Boatlode]

I was going to suggest maybe some type of primitive rivet, but both ends have the same taper. Never seen anything like it.

 

[releventchair]

The piece in question performed exactly how I would have a pin secure scales for a blade handle. My success rate of clean work is another story. Due to its length that,s not it. However if a backer was held on off side piece was driven from a clean surface would result, with proper length and malleability planned in advance. If ship related what surfaces needed to be nail point exposed proof or required fine detail work in a lamination? While common nails could be backed to avoid contact with feet,hands,head ect a fastener peened on each in would seem limited in application where a nail would not suffice with out clenching the end over. Of course body ornamentation tries to creep in ....

 

[penzfan]

hinge pin

 

[GatorBoy]

Thanks guys.. I thought about a hinge pin but could not figure how the end was equal sized how it wouldn't fall or pull right through.

 

[huntsman53]

Due to the color of the item and due to the encrustation coming off so easy, you might want to have it checked to see if it is made of lower quality Gold (i.e. 6Kt, 8Kt)! It may have been used on a piece of Jewelry and made with less Gold content for strength.


Frank

 

[GatorBoy]

Thanks for the thought Frank