Square nail made of Brass?

[igottadig]

So ive been hunting this site for a few weeks now and am pretty certain ive located an old homesite. It sits on Anastasia island in St Augustine Florida. Ive found alot of civil war buttons, iron, and alot of iron square nails. With the salt and humidity most old nails come up with a ton of rust. I dug this nail and it came out looking like it was dropped yesterday. I thought it was just a reg old nail until i tried my magnet and it didnt stick. Then looking in the light i can see a small shiny spot where my shovel mustve scratched iy and it is the color of copper/brass. I tried to put a little pressure to see if it would bend easily and it is solid. Does any have any info on what they think this was used for and what period? Im still fairly new to the md world so any help is always appreciated.

 

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[ARC]

Yep.

Square nail made of brass,.. or bronze.

 

[Hawks88]

I agree. Maybe used for furniture making. I’m sure someone here will know.

 

[Icewing]

I believe those were typically used for building boats and such where corrosion resistance is important, especially where salt water is present.

 

[john845]

Icewing is right on. Brass nails were used for making boats.

 

[A2coins]

Pretty cool find good luck on finding the homesite. Look for trees that would be around a home but no where else in the area ect ect

 

[smokeythecat]

Yes, Icewing nailed it. They were used for ship building and have been used for hundreds of years.

 

[Truth]

Not to high jack the thread but since it solved I found a huge spike made of lead. I still can’t explain it.

 

[namxat]

Not to high jack the thread but since it solved I found a huge spike made of lead. I still can’t explain it.

This is hard to say w/o a pic.

However, for a lead spike I would think towards a melting plug. In steam engines there were severals in the boiler and or the firebox. If things would go too hot, the lead would melt and relase the steam or relase water on the fire or something like that. Was the last line of defense if some idiot welded shut the regular overpressure valve.


I have found a bronze nail, also square and handforged more than 400 miles from the next saltwater, so boat is a possibility, yet not the only one.

Greets Namxat

 

[XLV]

brass nails and screws are still used today in some parts of the world to build boats

 

[Truth]

This is hard to say w/o a pic.

However, for a lead spike I would think towards a melting plug. In steam engines there were severals in the boiler and or the firebox. If things would go too hot, the lead would melt and relase the steam or relase water on the fire or something like that. Was the last line of defense if some idiot welded shut the regular overpressure valve.


I have found a bronze nail, also square and handforged more than 400 miles from the next saltwater, so boat is a possibility, yet not the only one.

Greets Namxat

I found it at a camp site about 7” down

 

[kyphote]

I’ve found only one of these — almost identical to yours — in decades of digging. I’ve always considered it my prize nail (if there is such a thing) but could never figure it out. I’m not sure about the boat thing as these nails are so uncommon. Mine was found at a CW site. That said, the site borders an old ferry landing, so maybe there’s something to the theory.

 

[EnvoyToTheMolePeople]

Most people are saying it is from a ship, and I tend to agree, as I have found similar nails on the beach in pieces of shipwrecks, but I have also found copper(possibly brass) nails at inland locations. It could have been used when it was important that there not be any sparks, such as around volatile chemicals or explosives. That's part of the reason why so many cannons were made from brass.

 

[kyphote]

Great point. Come to think of it my site was artillery and I’ve dug plenty of brass fuse shields. Maybe your nail fits that kind of application. Something used in a firing mechanism.

 

[igottadig]

 

[igottadig]

 

[Back-of-the-boat]

Possibly a farrier's nail they have some made from copper not sure about brass.(Farrier is the name for a person who shoes horses for those who didn't know.)It would explain the bend in the nail also, when they are pulled out the have a bend like that.

 

[Madmox]

Possibly a farrier's nail they have some made from copper not sure about brass.(Farrier is the name for a person who shoes horses for those who didn't know.)It would explain the bend in the nail also, when they are pulled out the have a bend like that.View attachment 1681083

That was the other option I was going to pose. The shape of the shank on ships nails are typically shorter and fatter than farriers nails which have a long skinny shank. None of the pictures are loading for me but a great second idea.

 

[namxat]

I found it at a camp site about 7” down
View attachment 1681069View attachment 1681070View attachment 1681071

No sorry that is def. not a melting plug. I´ll take my opnion back. It is fat to big and to "sharp". I think its cool and would hold on to it. Since lead is so soft, I dont think it would make a good nail. Maybe a tent herring (but it heavy, who wants to treck with lead?).

A further possibility is any application were you cant have any sparks (gas, gunpowder...).



Greets Namxat

 

[Truth]

No sorry that is def. not a melting plug. I´ll take my opnion back. It is fat to big and to "sharp". I think its cool and would hold on to it. Since lead is so soft, I dont think it would make a good nail. Maybe a tent herring (but it heavy, who wants to treck with lead?).

A further possibility is any application were you cant have any sparks (gas, gunpowder...).



Greets Namxat

My only conclusion was somebody shot of the spike in the ground and they poured lead and it just out of boredom