Need help identifying an iron spike

[IWillFindTheGold]

Hello everyone. Not sure where else to post this but I found an interesting iron spike in a large park and I'm curious if anyone has an idea what it is. Normally I ignore iron targets, but this one came up so loudly and in such a remote part of the park that I had to dig it. The second I pulled it out of the ground I was impressed by the shape, weight and general feel of it. It's 10" long and weighs 1.2lb. I also found another metal rod sitting beside it. The metal rod is 12" long with a tapered end.

There was some logging in this park back in the late 1800s and early 1900s. There are quite a few old stumps here and there in the park as evidence of their work. Is it possible this is something they dropped? I suppose it could also just be some piece of junk that someone dropped somewhere years ago.

Here is how it looked right out of the ground.




Here is a shot of the rod that was found very close to the spike.



A little electrolysis.



Suddenly I'm not very thirsty.



After the electrolysis.

 

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[Tony in SC]

The long skinny rod is a modern welding rod (electrode). Tony

 

[taz42o]

Maybe the head off a chipping hammer for use with that welding rod.

 

[IWillFindTheGold]

Thanks guys. Interesting that it's a welding rod. There is nothing in that area of the woods at all, no structures or items whatsoever. But it makes perfect sense that the spike would then be from a welding hammer. Interesting. thanks for the info!

 

[Bigcypresshunter]

Maybe the head off a chipping hammer for use with that welding rod.

Does it look as if the handle broke off? That would be a huge chipping hammer maybe for some heavy duty welding but it makes sense with the rod found next to it..

 

[Bigcypresshunter]

I have little experience arc welding but because of the large size, my guess is some kind of wedge. I think the modern welding rod has no connection with the find. Could it be a Coal Miners Wedge?

To extract the coal in pillar-and-stall mines, miners would first undercut the coal using picks. When this was complete, wedges and hammers would be used to break the coal away from the face ready for collection.
This method of working at the coalface in pillar-and-stall and longwall mines, was used well into the 20th century.

 

[mile-ender]

Know clue as to what it is - but nice job on the cleaning

 

[IWillFindTheGold]

I believe it might be some sort of wedge. That was my gut feeling when I pulled it from the ground. I inspected it closely but I don't see what might have been a connecting point for a handle in the middle.

My plan is to take it to a local museum where they have a blacksmithing forge. The museum is in the same town as the park so they will probably know exactly what it is. If and when I find out for sure I'll post back. Thanks again for the replies.

 

[Bigcypresshunter]

Are you in a coal region?

 

[IWillFindTheGold]

Are you in a coal region?

No, this is a forestry area.

 

[speedenforcer]

Could it be some type of tool for old time turpentine collecting?