Thoughts on what this might be.

[Gregg3131]

Found at old house site and civil war camp. Any ideas? Thanks as always.

 

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[mojjax]

snaffle bit ?

 

[vhs07]

Looks like a hitch pin.

 

[Charlie P. (NY)]

Tractor lynch pin. I lose two a year.

 

[tennessee digger]

Mojjax is right....it's part of a horse bridle bit (snaffle).

 

[DCMatt]

I'm with vhs & Charlie... Lynch pin for a lawn tractor/trailer.

 

[BosnMate]

Lynch pins date way back, but not necessarily like the one you found. The type of pin you found is more like what Charlie shows, and those have been around awhile, but probably
not before the three point hitch has been on farm tractors. The 9N Ford tractor came out with three point hitch in 1939 and the 8N Ford tractor was introduced in 1947.

 

[Charlie P. (NY)]

The Ferguson three-point hitch. Brilliant idea by an Irish fellow that pulls the axle down if the plow sticks. Earlier tractors just flopped over on their backs - not good. Probably saved thousands of lives over the years and made changing implements simple - with the HUGE advantage of a hydraulic lift. He & Ford agreed to share the concept on a handshake alone.

Mine's a 1956 Model 640.

 

[ARC]

Agreed... hitch pin for sure.

 

[Gregg3131]

Thanks all. Much appreciated

 

[lv2sign804]

I'm no expert by any means, but have found a few colonial snaffel's myself at my house. My house dates to 1848, but settlers on the property go back to the 1700s. I believe Mojjax is correct. Look on Colonial Williamsburg's site since you are a fellow Virginian, you'll find they look exactly like yours.. You can also look at this site as well.
http://www.har-indy.com/images/snaffle.jpgy house

 

[Charlie P. (NY)]

Easy way to tell. A snaffle bit bail is all on one axis (both ends of the ring are in one line). A lynch pin has a step where the two ends of the bail enter the pin so it gives a spring effect to keep it in place.

Also whether there is evidence of a clean or broken end opposite the bail.

 

[BosnMate]

Sorry, but it is not a part of a snaffle bit. Note the size when compared to a quarter. The horse that wears a bit that size would be beyond miniature.

 

[bradyboy]

I agree with the lynch pin idea
it was my instant opinion
IMO
Brady

 

[CRUSADER]

Tractor lynch pin. I lose two a year.

View attachment 1187275

Funny I find 2 a year!