🔎 UNIDENTIFIED Old iron from old farm

[Hesmikeb]

An old house used to stand on my property that I think was built in the 1820s or 30s. I find plenty of rusty stuff related to farming/ agriculture on the acreage here in Georgia. I've had this thing for over 20 years and can't remember if I found it metal detecting or just mostly exposed on top of the ground, maybe at an old barn site near where the old house used to be. I think it could be hand forged but I'm not sure. Definitely looks like rivits wete heated and driven in to hold the two pieces together. Wanted to post here to see if yall have any ideas. I'm new here so still trying to figure out the correct procedures for posting. I appreciate any input.

 

Amazon Forum Fav 👍

How to Research for Treasure Hunting and Metal Detecting From Lead Generation to Vetting - Grab it through Amazon!

[DizzyDigger]

Certainly does have a "hand-forged" look to it. My guess is some type of farm equipment. Hopefully someone will come along that is more familiar with such items.

 

[releventchair]

Sharp and pokey...

Maybe hay grapple,.?
Hay barn / haymow grapple...

Different styles existed. Purpose the same. Stab hay and move it.

 

[robertk]

Looks like a grapple of some kinda alright. If you can mentally put a pin through the holes and then spin the smaller part around it 180 degrees so the "hooks" on both pieces face each other, you can imagine that when the top hook (end of the long bar above the pivot pin) was hung from a rope or chain, gravity would cause the "jaws" to hold whatever was in between them.

I could be wrong, but that's definitely what it looks like.

 

[Hesmikeb]

Looks like a grapple of some kinda alright. If you can mentally put a pin through the holes and then spin the smaller part around it 180 degrees so the "hooks" on both pieces face each other, you can imagine that when the top hook (end of the long bar above the pivot pin) was hung from a rope or chain, gravity would cause the "jaws" to hold whatever was in between them.

I could be wrong, but that's definitely what it looks like.

Love this conversation and the track y'all are on is the best I've heard over these years. It will spin and straighten out...I just wonder about the curve and the extra hole. Did they purposely not put a permanent rivit there so it could swing....is a permanent rivit missing...I used to think the oval in the middle was to fit around something temporarily then removed by taking out a pin where the open hole is. I do like the idea it was used to stab into hay bales...maybe the curves are for spacing between other things hanging or walls

 

[Fourman110]

Imleaning towards a barn trolley hay hook.