Iron Chain

[OldQuest]

Looks hand forged.

 

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[civil_war22]

Can you tell if there is any squared off points or a seam line? Forging is a skill, and most old school chain builders did a great job at heat welding their seams. So you may not see them, you may just have to look for squares off edges where they’ve been beaten.

 

[OldQuest]

I can't see any obvious seams, but one thing I noticed is that the link stock is pretty close to 3/8" diameter, except one end of each link is a bit fatter, more like 7/16" or 1/2", and sometimes is a bit flattened.

 

[civil_war22]

I can't see any obvious seams, but one thing I noticed is that the link stock is pretty close to 3/8" diameter, except one end of each link is a bit fatter, more like 7/16" or 1/2", and sometimes is a bit flattened.

They’re definitely older, I would say hand forged because more modern chains have a nearly identical surface area in between the links. Plus modern chains will have a seam line here the hot iron is bent out then back back in to the other side of open chain which forms a welded bond once it’s pressed in by the machine, and seem marks are much easier to see on newer ones. Plus yours aren’t uniform at all, the bends, irregularities in the size, width of metal shows it was probably hand forged

 

[pa plateau hiker]

Probably an old logging chain. Too bad it's not complete with hooks on the ends. Old log chains are neat to find.

 

[A2coins]

Nice find good way to date activity

 

[Professor of Engineering]

Interesting piece, congrats!

 

[Kevin75931]

I am going to guess it is a trace chain from a horse drawn plow.

 

[OldQuest]

I am going to guess it is a trace chain from a horse drawn plow.

Yes, although the context here most likely would have been oxen dragging logs.