🔎 UNIDENTIFIED Odd Farm Hook - Any Ideas?

[CoinmasterIV]

Found at a farm site that goes back to the mid 1800's. Inside dimensions of the 'rectangle' are 2-1/4" x 3". Hook end is tapered (from 3/8" round stock):

 

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[Sandog]

Would a beam, or a 2X4 pass through the hoop? Could a hanger of some sort, that would keep a tool or some such object from jumping off the hook. Looks old and handmade. Nice piece.

 

[Nathan W]

That's a cool forged piece

 

[pepperj]

Would a beam, or a 2X4 pass through the hoop? Could a hanger of some sort, that would keep a tool or some such object from jumping off the hook. Looks old and handmade. Nice piece.

A real 2"x4" not the 1.5"x3.5"of today's lumber.😁

 

[ConceptualizedNetherlandr]

Could be for handling barbed wire.

 

[metrotec]

could be "one" of an ornate set of several, or fits over a post.
My main guess is; it's a bull cinch. I worked on farms as a teen in 1958-64 before leaving home, and the old timers would use that thing you got pictured as a "bull cinch".
They'd sneek up behind a bull & snatch his gonads with that hook, give it a half twist, and that bull was a cinch to follow them where ever they wanted to go.
Tried that with a yearling and plowed 2 corn furrows with my boots a 1/4 mile long. Guess I was too skinny. I'm pushing 80 now and still too skinny
Just a wild guess , nice item

 

[Randawg72]

I love it. It looks like a simple but effective gate latch. A loop of rope on an adjacent post and you've corralled your horses for the night..

 

[Sandog]

2 of those might hang a carcass by rear tendons for butchering.

 

[Randawg72]

I have another idea. What about a Lantern hook made to fit on the end of a roof beam?

 

[CoinmasterIV]

I added this to my original post: Inside dimensions of the 'rectangle' are 2-1/4" x 3".

Some very interesting identifications posted! Keep them coming as I have never seen anything like it...

 

[JohnnyMac]

Found at a farm site that goes back to the mid 1800's. Inside dimensions of the 'rectangle' are 2-1/4" x 3". Hook end is tapered (from 3/8" round stock):

View attachment 2203001View attachment 2203003

No clue what is is but i love it. Appears to be hand forged

 

[Eagle88]

Nice hand forged item!

 

[unclemac]

It's a hand forged item made for a specific purpose to fill a need...could be used for a variety of reasons, but was made by an individual for his specific requirement.

 

[Robot]

I agree with others here:
I know what I would use it for around farm buildings...a type of Antique Post Lamp Holders.

 

[Red-Coat]

I have another idea. What about a Lantern hook made to fit on the end of a roof beam?

View attachment 2203091

I could see it being used to hang something off the end of a wooden beam (ie used upside down relative to the original pictures.)

Otherwise, since the hook portion is off-centre with respect to the rectangular portion, if used in the orientation shown then the rectangular portion would swing out of a level position.

Note on this 'similar' item (of unknown purpose), the hook portion is aligned to the centre of gravity such that it wouldn't swing if used in that orientation.

 

[Randawg72]

I could see it being used to hang something off the end of a wooden beam (ie used upside down relative to the original pictures.)

Otherwise, since the hook portion is off-centre with respect to the rectangular portion, if used in the orientation shown then the rectangular portion would swing out of a level position.

Note on this 'similar' item (of unknown purpose), the hook portion is aligned to the centre of gravity such that it wouldn't swing if used in that orientation.

Possibly a hanger for a barn pulley?