Old Ankle Chain ?

[Choctaw]

I've had this old chain for several years now and have always wondered if this was a old prisoner ankle chain or a slave chain or something else. Looks blacksmith made ,is very rusted and pitted , has a very old lock on the one end. There are 6 oval links and a couple look to have been cut on some. The end by the lock has been cut through ,like someone lost the key or tried to escape
It is to rusted to open up . This was found in central Arkansas . Help!!

 

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[Gypsy Heart]

I think thats what you have . Here is a good site for info.....http://www.blacksteel.com/hcs/index.cgi?section=Photos&subsection=4

Nice find!. Nana ,(from this forum ) also just found a pair of these in Alabama

 

[Choctaw]

Do you think they are slave or prisoner type leg Irons?

 

[Gypsy Heart]

I have no clue...I guess a good place to start would be the history of the location you found them. The website I posted above will be able to give you alot of info...send them a picture. Good Luck.

 

[Charlene]

Gypsy is right, alot of discovering what it is depends on research. And good folks like the ones on this site

 

[trk5capt]

It is a Shakle, But Someone along time ago slipped the chain Link onto The Cuff and Locked It. trk5capt...