Need help with identification on this not sure what it is

[Cclantz]

 

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[vpnavy]

I moved ya from METAL DETECTING over to WHAT IS IT? for more exposure.

 

[ticndig]

it's a reins guide

 

[Goodyguy]

it's a reins guide

Never saw one with a lid before. Wonder what the lid is for

 

[ticndig]

google images shows one with a what they call a flapper . not sure I can post about a different metal detecting site .http://metaldetectingforum.com/showthread.php?p=3046322

 

[ticndig]

This was posted by Cannonball guy . the man knows his relics.


As an addition to the diagram helpfully posted by Old Pueblo, here's a modern photo showing rein-guides, which are the rings on the thick black leather strap/harness in the photo. They are for wagon/coach/buggy-pulling horses' harness. The terrets/rein-guides keep the long reins from drooping down along the horse's sides, where the reins could snag on something. The "swinger" terrets, like you found, are a fancier version of the simple ring terrets/rein-guides.

The other photo shows simple rings and another variety in the middle, in which the ring has an opening, for ease of inserting the "bearing rein" seen in Old Pueblo's diagram.

 

[TheCannonballGuy]

Goodyguy asked:
> Never saw one with a lid before. Wonder what the lid is for?

That is a version of horseharness reins-guide technically called a terret) called a "swinger terret." See the circa-1900 horsegear catalog advertisement below. Cclantz's find appears to be the one at far right in the second row.

 

[firemanphob]

OK, I have a question, Were these functional or simply decorative? I don't see how they could function because the reins would wedge in them and the only time you could see the "fancy" was when there were no reins in them.

 

[trdking]

Locks the rein Like an e brake?

 

[Goodyguy]

OK, I have a question, Were these functional or simply decorative? I don't see how they could function because the reins would wedge in them and the only time you could see the "fancy" was when there were no reins in them.

Mystery "SOLVED" TheCannonBallGuy nailed it.
Honorable mention goes to Ticndig

I found that the swingers and tumblers terretts (circa 1890s) were for decoration only and not used as reins guides.
Learn something new every day.

GG~

 

[TheCannonballGuy]

Ticndig found a relic-ID photo I posted as helpful, so here's another. It shows that reinguides/terrets are still made and being used today, seen here on a buggy's harness "in action."

 

[Cclantz]

They thanks for figuring that out I had no ideal what to think of it

 

[A2coins]

Awesome ID It had me stumped as usual nice relic

 

[A2coins]

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