✅ SOLVED New or old

[4x4x4]

I occasionally hunt near The Pacific Crest Trail ( Mexico to Canada) that roughly followes the route taken by "international travelers" , through the (old and forgotten , international border fence panel #138 , Tecate) old Tecate Mexico port of entry . Of course I spy pull tabs and any number of lead and clad projectiles with a fair amount of current detritus.
THIS was found , above the soil in a mound of manageable stones.










Old or new .
The stamped numbers are small and crisp YET I wouldn't think any self respecting backpacker would tote
this (main body) 7"×3" iron pot hook . EDIT... as found , dusted no cleaning. Markings.... possibe faint makers mark "K K U or R K U" with possibly "D (A or H) 22 "(G or C) or 6 3" ( DA22C3 ) or (DA2263) .
Any input would be welcome !

TKS ,
Mark.

 

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[relic lover]

Its hand forged so old is my vote

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[4x4x4]

Thanks Relic Lover .
The thing just looks new as the deep , crisp number/letter stamps are tiny and , while not aligned , only about an eighth inch tall.
The craftsmanship is sweet in my eyes .
Not sure where to repost in relics .

 

[cudamark]

Looks like a pot holder for hanging over a campfire. Cool find.

 

[coinman123]

I would guess it is from around the 1920's, the lack of rust makes me think it may have been dropped later though.

 

[relic lover]

One thing I did notice being a blacksmith myself is that the smaller hook on the top is not the same type of work or same style or same quality of work as the bigger part. The bottom or larger part definitely looks Hand Forged and I can see that the numbers stamped into it have been done one at a time by hand because they don't line up perfectly. I just can't imagine a blacksmith taking the time to put such a long serial number on a hook. Really is a mystery. I was wondering if maybe the number wasn't inspectors mark or something to prove that it was in military spec. I have seen this type of thing with Hand Forged horse bits. Just something to consider

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[4x4x4]

One thing I did notice being a blacksmith myself is that the smaller hook on the top is not the same type of work or same style or same quality of work as the bigger part. The bottom or larger part definitely looks Hand Forged and I can see that the numbers stamped into it have been done one at a time by hand because they don't line up perfectly. I just can't imagine a blacksmith taking the time to put such a long serial number on a hook. Really is a mystery. I was wondering if maybe the number wasn't inspectors mark or something to prove that it was in military spec. I have seen this type of thing with Hand Forged horse bits. Just something to consider

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Thanks again ! I feel the same way. No luck researching the prefix or numbers.

 

[relic lover]

One thing's for sure the smaller Hook was not part of whatever the thing started out as. The hole that the smaller Hook is attached looks like it is for your hand or a strap. My best hunch is that it is some sort of horse tack for hauling something for the military. Like a wagon or a Canon or something. The military is the only reason I can imagine for a serial number on such a mundane item

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[relic lover]

Either that or it's for some sort of mining equipment either way someone definitely repurposed it as a campfire hook and lost it on the trail I guess

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[relic lover]

I would guess it is from around the 1920's, the lack of rust makes me think it may have been dropped later though.

If it's wrought iron the low carbon content would make it extremely resistant to rusting

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[relic lover]

Okay I think I figured it out I think the serial number was stamped on to whatever object got forged into a hook at a later time. In other words they started off with a piece of scrap of some sort that had a serial number and then forged it into the hook you see there. That would explain why the number is so close to a weird Ripple in the metal

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[4x4x4]

Okay I think I figured it out I think the serial number was stamped on to whatever object got forged into a hook at a later time. In other words they started off with a piece of scrap of some sort that had a serial number and then forged it into the hook you see there. That would explain why the number is so close to a weird Ripple in the metal

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Thanks ! Whilst odd , that accounts for the nice stamp on the warped surface .
I'll mark this SOLVED !

 

[dts52]

Possible rifle barrel?