SHIPS SPIKE

[villagenut]

SHIP'S SPIKE

Yes I know it is a nail, but my question is why is it clenched at the point? Hopefully that was the right word. I found it at the site of a schooner build in 1846 and cant figure out the "Clenched point". I find lots of bent square nails (for house builds) and most are bent over after driving it through in order to keep it secure but this one being much larger and bent may have just been a discard due to it bending when nailing it in. Any thoughts?

 

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[Charlie P. (NY)]

"Clenched nails" are bent right around 180° or at least 90° for the larger ones when set. I think that's just a spike.

 

[unclemac]

that's just what they look like from the beach...bronze or copper? maybe due to twisting in the wood as they break apart.

 

[villagenut]

It is iron and good quality forging at that,it cleaned up nice.Yes a lot of ship and or boat building was done using bronze or copper spikes but Iron was also used in particular in the fastening of the hull together. My question, though was not so much about the bend in the spike, but rather how the point has been "squeezed" by the blacksmith. squeezed. Perhaps "clenching" was the improper word I used before. I do not know if you can see the point well enough so I will try this photo. Thanks for looking...vn

 

[GatorBoy]

This is just a guess..but.. I'm thinking it was shortened at that point..and that is an unfinished or just a crude or even lazy finish on what was otherwise a nice job.

 

[GatorBoy]

More finished?

 

[villagenut]

More finished?

View attachment 1076391

That one looks more like a common big square nail, which are not technically square, but rectangular.The one I have shown is actually square on all sides, yours there might be too, but I can't tell from the pic. Looks like you found it on the beach though, are they common to find there?.

 

[GatorBoy]

I'm on the Treasure Coast of Florida..and target old shipwrecks when conditions are right... I find a few

 

[GatorBoy]

They come in many shapes sizes and styles

 

[villagenut]

That's a nice bunch of nails Gatorboy, Do you find mostly bronze, or a mix of material on the shores. Nails are cool finds, I often have been ribbed for spending so much time conserving them especially when searching property where burned structures stood.There they are plentiful in all sizes as well, but nowhere as nice as one from a wreck site.

 

[GatorBoy]

Those are all from shipwrecks.
Don't find much iron because the salt water has destroyed it.
All are bronze.. A few are nails and other types of connectors most are spikes