✅ SOLVED Look Familiar?

[sibbley]

Hit a new permission today for an hour after work. Never did a field before, it's going to take some time to swing around the stalks. Any way, loads of iron signals and shotgun shells. Found the item below. Thought it was a half horseshoe till I looked closer when I got home.



Thanks for looking...

 

Amazon Forum Fav 👍

Minelab PRO-FIND 35 Waterproof Pinpointer Metal Detector for Experts with Tone ID & Adjustable Sensitivity - Grab it through Amazon!

[robertk]

Horseshoe would have been my guess too. Is the other side any different? What did you see that makes you think it isn't a horseshoe?

 

[sibbley]

Horseshoe would have been my guess too. Is the other side any different? What did you see that makes you think it isn't a horseshoe?

Other side looks the same. There are no nail holes.

 

[robertk]

Can you tell if the small end was broken off? Maybe a cultivator tooth?

 

[sibbley]

Can you tell if the small end was broken off? Maybe a cultivator tooth?

Broken at the top, larger end.

 

[ARC]

Perhaps flattened oiler spout.

What is it made out of... and size etc etc etc.

 

[ARC]

When posting in "What Is It?", please give members the information they need to help identify your find:

1. Post MULTIPLE sharp closeup photos of both the front and the back and sides.
2. State the actual size of the item. Also, if possible, put something with it in the photo for scale: a common U.S. coin, a ruler, etc.
3. If there are any inscriptions which cannot be easily read in the photos, type them in full in your post.
4. If there are maker's marks, numbers, symbols, or other marks on the back which are not easily seen in the photo, post a close-up or a drawing of them.
5. Indicate the composition of the item. For example: "thin brass, filled with lead on the back."
6. Knowing where you found the item or how you got it can also be helpful in identifying the find.

• Once your item has been identified, don't forget to mark it "Solved."

• Finally, if someone identifies your item or provides other helpful information, take time to post your appreciation or click the "like" button.

 

[sibbley]

When posting in "What Is It?", please give members the information they need to help identify your find:

1. Post MULTIPLE sharp closeup photos of both the front and the back and sides.
2. State the actual size of the item. Also, if possible, put something with it in the photo for scale: a common U.S. coin, a ruler, etc.
3. If there are any inscriptions which cannot be easily read in the photos, type them in full in your post.
4. If there are maker's marks, numbers, symbols, or other marks on the back which are not easily seen in the photo, post a close-up or a drawing of them.
5. Indicate the composition of the item. For example: "thin brass, filled with lead on the back."
6. Knowing where you found the item or how you got it can also be helpful in identifying the find.

• Once your item has been identified, don't forget to mark it "Solved."

• Finally, if someone identifies your item or provides other helpful information, take time to post your appreciation or click the "like" button.

Here a couple more pics. As mentioned, it was dug out of a field. There are rulers in the image for size reference. The item is heavy iron. It is sort of rounded on one side and worn in the center on the other. Not sure the pics will show that. I haven't cleaned it yet.



The field goes back to at least 163 years as it's listed as a farm on the 1860 map of the township.

Thanks...

 

[robertk]

I could be way off, but I'm still leaning towards cultivator tooth.

 

[sibbley]

I could be way off, but I'm still leaning towards cultivator tooth.

I think that makes sense with the way it looks worn. I'll try to get it cleaned up tomorrow morning and post pics.

 

[rebelminer]

i don't think it's a horse shoe because it doesn't show any signs of a nail crease. the nails are down in the crease to keep the nail heads from wearing off and that lets the shoe fall off. it could be half of a handmade shoe that was never creased or had the nail holes punched....

 

[sibbley]

More pics after it was cleaned. Apparently, there are nail holes that have nails in them and are covered by rust. May even be part of a nail sticking out of one of the holes?

 

[robertk]

there are nail holes that have nails in them and are covered by rust.

Then I think you're back to "horseshoe fragment."

 

[sibbley]

Kind of looks that way. Just no recessed area.

 

[sibbley]

From what I just read, the recessed area or fullering doesn't matter. I get the impression that the horseshoes were better with no fullering and punched nail holes. I'm going to soak in vinegar for a few days and wire wheel the fragment to see how many nails there were. I'm leaning toward horseshoe at this point. I'll leave it unidentified for a few more days.

Thanks everyone...

 

[rebelminer]

its definitely a horse shoe. horseshoe nails look just like those. still don't see the crease. i have installed lots of them and worked with a blacksmith as a teenager and we always put in the nail crease if we weren't using keg shoes. the nail heads need to be protected. even steer shoes had nail creases.

 

[rebelminer]

Another thought,,,, it might be an ice shoe. i have never seen one cause i am way to far south for that. the heads on the nails protruded on those i think.

 

[sibbley]

Looks like the ice shoes had cleats. I read that the nail holes were punched through, I imagine when hot. The nails look to have been counter sunk in the punched hole.

The four circles are where the cleats were. The nails look countersunk. This is a shoe that I found that had no recessed area for the nails.


Good call. I don't think mine had cleats but once the rust is removed who knows what I might find. Some had cleats attached to the shoe in other ways, they had the recessed area for nails though.

 

[sibbley]

Cleaned the horseshoe today. Found it had four nail holes. I also had orange spark when I hit it with a grinder. I read that would mean it was hand forged wrought iron?