For you colonial iron enthusiasts heres a couple more for you to ID

[Bill D. (VA)]

For you colonial iron enthusiasts here's a couple more for you to ID

These were found in the same 1600s pit as the first artifact I posted. I have reason to believe the item in the first pic is some sort of leather working tool, but don't have a clue about the other. Any ideas?

 

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[Don in SJ]

Bill, I have no idea but they sure are great relics! Very nice additions to your collection, I think I would email photos to the Colonial Williamsburg people if I were you.

Don

 

[kuger]

Wow!Dripping with "Early"!The first do look like Farrier nippers,for trimming hooves,no idea what the rest of the Multi tool uses would be?

 

[HutSiteDigger]

First one looks like Blacksmith tongs... 2nd one I have no clue I was thinking gun tool but for that time era I do not think that is right but I think some sort of black-smith tool would be a good guess. Good luck and thanks for sharing!

 

[creskol]

QUESTION:

 

[yaxthri]

Good question creskol...


Could this be maybe part of a trap?

 

[CurlysGold]

I want the second piece to be a part of a balance beam scale. The hook on the left doesn't match examples that I have though...

 

[CurlysGold]

The first tool looks like a castration tool. Again I cannot find an exact match. But the blade looks like a spey point. Still digging for more information...

 

[Bill D. (VA)]

Rob - upon closer inspection it looks like the horizontal piece was made to rotate inside the other, but its obviously frozen up now. But I'm surprised the dangling hook on the right is free after laying in the pit for 350 years.

 

[creskol]

Rob - upon closer inspection it looks like the horizontal piece was made to rotate inside the other, but its obviously frozen up now. But I'm surprised the dangling hook on the right is free after laying in the pit for 350 years.

I am thinking that it is part of an 18th century jointed horse bit, similar to the reconstruction shown below.

 

[CurlysGold]

I am thinking that it is part of an 18th century jointed horse bit.

I think you nailed it. It's called a snaffle bit.

Bits 101 | CAES Publications | UGA

 

[artemis moon]

It reminds me of a bit of a horse bit too! If you look at the "S" shaped hooks at the far end that are attached to loops..needless to say, these are handmade and I'm sure that there are all kinds of variations on horsetack. Whatever it turns out to be, it's a beautiful piece- I love the look of hand-forged iron!! Thanks for sharing it!

 

[yaxthri]

Good call creskol!!! Kudos on the id!

 

[creskol]

I have been pondering this tool since you posted it, and have come to the conclusion that it is a smith-made leather tool.
Using your hand as a scale, it doesn't appear that it is longer than 5-6 inches in total length. There would not be enough leverage to cut anything substantial with the nippers. However, it does have all the necessary tools to make a leatherman's tool. It has an awl, a knife blade, and a curved hook knife used for tooling leather. I am sure it was made with a "specific task" in mind, but the more I look at it, the more I am convinced that the "specific task" had to do something with leather. I have a suspicion that it was for working leather straps, reins, etc, for which the small nippers would work great!

 

[kuger]

Thats is incredibly awesome...the first "Multi-Tool"

 

[Bill D. (VA)]

I am thinking that it is part of an 18th century jointed horse bit, similar to the reconstruction shown below.

Wow Rob - that's some great work on the bit! I think you nailed it on the leather working tool as well. I thought it had something to do with that craft, but the multi-tool theory seems to be right on. Thanks again for your expert assistance. SOLVED!

 

[relicmeister]

Read everyones contributions with fascination. Those are fantastic artifacts, Bill.

 

[Bill D. (VA)]

It reminds me of a bit of a horse bit too! If you look at the "S" shaped hooks at the far end that are attached to loops..needless to say, these are handmade and I'm sure that there are all kinds of variations on horsetack. Whatever it turns out to be, it's a beautiful piece- I love the look of hand-forged iron!! Thanks for sharing it!View attachment 796507

Thanks for posting the pic. It does indeed have some similarities to mine.