Lead knuckles/weight/??

[2zcreek]

Found this in an area that once was an old lumber mill from the early 1910's.

It's been suggested as civil war knuckles, an old tourniquet and a decoy weight; however, it doesn't seem to fit any of these suggestions with the little bit of research I've managed.

It's about three (3) inches by three (3) inches and fits my sons hand perfectly.

 

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[creskol]

Is it really lead?

 

[MoJoe]

To me it looks like some type of handle. The "T" part would be put into a slot, then given a half turn and you could lift with it? BUT if it is lead, I would think the lead would be too soft to lift anything very heavy.

 

[mical66]

could it be some type of step ?
like a folding step for utility trucks .
kind of like this one,

 

[mical66]

Hmmm, i kind of like Mojoe's idea also.
cant wait to see it IDed

 

[CRUSADER]

Yeap we have had a few CW era Lead knuckle dusters posted.

 

[2zcreek]

It's definitely lead. It's soft and can be scratched. It's a bit decorated on the top edge.

 

[vhs07]

I would lean towards the duck decoy weight.

 

[BrianM]

Lead Knuckles

The item that you found is a pair of Lead Knuckles. It is a very good find. I dug up a pair in a privy behind an old saloon site here in Michigan. Mine is different than yours, but I have seen some very similar in design at our local museum. During the logging days here, the police recovered many of these weapons during fights at saloons. These weapons are on display here. Mine are a small size and don't fit my hands, but people had small hands back then.

 

[Ruchman]

My first thought was also some kind of weight for decoys. I have fairly small Hands and 3" wouldn't fit my hand? Picturing myself holding that and smashing someone in the face I personally, would want the notches for my hand over my knuckles not on the outside?

Could be for something related to electrical/explosives? I have seen that before just can't find it??

 

[BrianM]

I will get a photo later on, when I can get some free time to go to the museum again. This type of lead knuckles, your fingers go inside the hole, the long "T" handle part goes in the palm of your hand. My lead knuckles have the same "T" handle part, but it has holes for the fingers instead of one large opening for all of the fingers.

 

[gunsil]

It is way to small for knuckles, it is indeed a decoy weight.

 

[BrianM]

Ok, here is another photo of some lead knuckles. This photo is of weapons recovered by the local police department during the 1800's from different brawls at local saloons and gambling dens. If you look closely you will see a set of lead knuckles just like the one posted at the start of this thread. I don't think these are decoy weights.

 

[BrianM]

The pair at the top of this post are actually better made for fighting. You can see that they were formed to fit the palm of the hand and there are ridges along the striking edge. One pair in the above photo just have a smooth square edge.

 

[BrianM]

Here is the pair that I dug up in a saloon privy last summer.

 

[Thommy]

The item that you found is a pair of Lead Knuckles. It is a very good find. I dug up a pair in a privy behind an old saloon site here in Michigan. Mine is different than yours, but I have seen some very similar in design at our local museum. During the logging days here, the police recovered many of these weapons during fights at saloons. These weapons are on display here. Mine are a small size and don't fit my hands, but people had small hands back then.

I think BrianM is right on -I've seen lead knuckles like that before.

 

[vhs07]

I disagree on the knuckles idea because of it's size. First, its about 3" wide, so the I.D. would be around 2 1/2". I don't have big hands, but I would only be able to get three fingers inside, which would be very uncomfortable for the remaining finger. Take a tape measure and measure your own fingers. Also, its also 3" deep, so it you closed your fist around it, the back part (tang?) could not fit inside your hand. All brass knuckles I've ever seen are made to close your fist around, as do the lead knuckles that are shown on this thread as an example. Lastly, I don't see any patina on the op's photo.. Most lead items that old are whitish in color.

 

[HomeGuardDan]

It looks like it could be - but the size and shape are off. It also does not look like it has nearly enough (actually none) ground action or oxidation (unless it was over cleaned or found in the water). It does not resemble and duck decoy keel weight I have ever seen.

 

[BrianM]

This set actually has bumps across the striking edge. Why would someone make a decoy weight like that? As far as the size goes, people had small hands a hundred years ago. I can't even fit my fingers in the pair that I found. My fist measures 3.5 inches across. If the inside of that pair is 3 inches like what was stated, that doesn't seem to be too far off. As for the lead not having oxidation, it looks like it has been cleaned. Just my two cents. Too bad the finder is not hanging around on the forum, we could ask him some more questions instead of just assuming things. Very good comments from everyone too.

I disagree on the knuckles idea because of it's size. First, its about 3" wide, so the I.D. would be around 2 1/2". I don't have big hands, but I would only be able to get three fingers inside, which would be very uncomfortable for the remaining finger. Take a tape measure and measure your own fingers. Also, its also 3" deep, so it you closed your fist around it, the back part (tang?) could not fit inside your hand. All brass knuckles I've ever seen are made to close your fist around, as do the lead knuckles that are shown on this thread as an example. Lastly, I don't see any patina on the op's photo.. Most lead items that old are whitish in color.

 

[boogeyman]

Duck decoy weight. See pic. different style same function. The anchor line winds up around the horns.