found this piece of metal at Rush, Arkansas

[fosgate3]

Some friends and I went camping in the old zinc mining town of Rush, Arkansas. While walking the main road that runs through what's left of the town, I spotted something out of place among the gray gravel of the road. It was a small bit of rusty metal showing through among the rocks. I dug it out with my pocket knife and took it home to clean up. I don't know what it was for but it appears to be hand-forged. What do you think?

 

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[kingskid1611]

Defintely forged and pretty cool. Although I don't know what it was used for I like how it looks.

 

[wainzoid]

Door hinge? Gate hinge?

 

[Mud Hut]

Looks like a forged strap pintle.

 

[BagLady]

I agree with Wainzoid. Gate hinge. But then, I don't know what a "pintle" is. Same thing?
The holes were made from a tool called a pritchel, the same tool used to make the nail holes in horse shoes.

 

[Anduril]

Well, Rush Arkansas is much too far north for this to be a piece off the Space Shuttle Columbia.
And I'm sure it's the wrong metal for something like that.

On a more serious note, it just looks like "one-off, one-of-a-kind" sort of thing.
Now if you find another one...

 

[fosgate3]

You guys are a big help. I think it is a pintle too now that I've looked up the word and have seen pictures. And that would make sense to find it there. Thank you so much!

 

[ARC]

Door hinge? Gate hinge?

agreed.