Reigns guide type Thing

[DiggerKid2003]

Found digging at a homesite. Don’t got a clue.

 

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[Dharmacy]

looks more like an oar lock instead of a rein guide to me.

D.

 

[vhs07]

looks more like an oar lock instead of a rein guide to me.

D.

Agreed, oarlock,

 

[releventchair]

X 3 ,Row lock. Unless some old timer had a swivel gun.....

 

[Rookster]

Metal Detector tuning fork.

 

[DiggerKid2003]

Thanks everyone oar lock didn't even cross my mind. But that's what it I'd I bet.

 

[A2coins]

oar it shall be or not

 

[digger dug]

how would it mount if it was?

 

[Bruce R]

There’s a band of thick wood along the top of the boat sides called a gunwale, a vertical hole is drilled in this and the oarlock is inserted thru it with a cotter pin going into the hole in the bottom.

 

[smokeythecat]

Another possibility is that it is a "mount" for large bore "wall gun". The colonists would use these either embedded in the walls of a fort or in your size, on the end of a pole to hole the business end of a heavy, early musket for firing. Your item is very crudely made (which is good) and I don't think it's heavy enough for an oar holder. Just a thought. 17th or 18th century.

 

[Bruce R]

Wall gun forks wouldn’t have a hole in the bottom of the shank.

 

[smokeythecat]

A wood pin would be fitted so it could be easily removed by removing the pin. That way the "mount" could be set in another section of the fort in pre drilled holes, as needed.

 

[Bruce R]

I just googled “antique swivel gun mount” and found a bunch of similar items, but none identical. All seem to have a way to fasten the gun

 

[smokeythecat]

I guarantee they don't grow on trees. You hardly ever see any. I saw some at Ft. Ticonderoga a couple years ago.

 

[releventchair]

I just googled “antique swivel gun mount” and found a bunch of similar items, but none identical. All seem to have a way to fasten the gun

Many pics show swivel guns with the top forks pinned with what look like rivets through the stock. Perhaps through a tenon attached to barrel.

Looked at punt guns for market duck hunting too.
Then the Spainiards hand held supports for early guns with their tall shanks allowing shooting from a standing position.

Oar/ row locks often have the hole in the shank you mentioned earlier.
Early oars ,and single oars for sculling were different than more common modern ones.
Open topped rowlocks vs pinned through oar. Pins creating a weak spot from their hole through oar.

 

[smokeythecat]

It's a hair thinner for sure! It's really cool, a little more research may get the job done for you. I can't think of anything else it could be, except for the three aforementioned possibilities.

 

[releventchair]

The bottom ( where shank starts) has a protrusion sticking out to one side. Not real common.
Flying Tiger antiques online store calls/ called their pair with the similar base " lifeboat" oar locks.
Theirs are bronze.

It might take more looking to confirm they are/ were actual lifeboat items. Would add interest in your pieces history if so....

 

[Bruce R]

If I had it, it would become a righteous slingshot !

 

[DiggerKid2003]

I appreciate everyone that has done research to find out what it is. I'm gonna do more research myself but probably gonna end up labeling them as oarlocks. Thanks again everyone.

 

[sutphin]

NICE FIND