Musket butt plate or something else?

[DownNDirty]

When I found this I thought it was a musket butt plate because of the shape and size. But the holes look like they held square nails instead of screws, and the spikes at either end are shaped like square nails. Could this be a crude butt plate for a trade musket or something else altogether? It's made of iron (I ran it through electrolysis before taking the pictures). I dug it at a home site that was built in the 1750s. Thanks

 

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[pistol-pete]

I've seen something like that before but ? Definitely not a buttplate

 

[mk4125]

If you found it in Michigan I would have guess some sort of early "ice spike" attachment for a boot (so as to gain traction on ice). Being though you are in South Carolina I am thinking that its not that. Interesting piece and hopefully someone has the answer.

 

[sawmill man]

Puts me in mind of a pinch dog ,but i never saw one with the flat top. so might not be it. then again it looks animal shoe related ,by the square nail holes.

 

[nagant]

No clue but could be some sort of wear plate for a step for wagon/carriage? What about those club butt fowlers or a wall gun?

 

[RebelYeller]

The points would be flat if it was a butt-plate... hmmm interesting

 

[jewelerguy]

doesn't look like a commercially made object. looks hand forged to me, like a specialty item hand made for a specific need

 

[Ice Scratcher]

doesn't look like a commercially made object. looks hand forged to me, like a specialty item hand made for a specific need

Yes, hand forged...

It's a big staple, driven into the end grain of large planks/timber, to keep them from separating apart.. Timbers that might make up a bridge for example..

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[Ice Scratcher]

Just to add, the staple had the strength, the nail holes just held it in place so it didn't work loose, and fall out as the wood would shrink, and swell.. Most likely from something that got wet/dry a lot..

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[DownNDirty]

Yes, hand forged...

It's a big staple, driven into the end grain of large planks/timber, to keep them from separating apart.. Timbers that might make up a bridge for example..

<°)))>{

Interesting theory and you could be right-but it is curved downward width-wise (see the picture). I would think that if it had been attached to the end of a board it would have been flat.

 

[DownNDirty]

I definitely agree that it looks hand-forged. Maybe it was a makeshift replacement for a butt plate on a cheap musket?

 

[nagant]

OK how about a wagon/buggy wheel patch?

 

[BosnMate]

Indian Trade muskets had iron butt plates that were nailed on. I'm not saying that is what you have, because of the spikes, I don't think so, but a heads up that there were muskets with nailed on butt plates.

 

[DownNDirty]

Thanks for all the input so far. Unfortunately this is probably one of those relics that I will never know for sure what it was used for, but it is an interesting one nonetheless.