Tool, knife or something else?

[winslow]

This was found along a creek that has been worked for gold since the 1850's. A lot of square nails around so I'm assuming it's old.

About 9 inches long and reeded along the outer edge similar to a coin. Inside has a sharp edge.

Took a picture of it before and after using 40 grit flap disc on it for a bit. I couldn't find any identifying marks.

At first I thought this was a file of some sort. But I don't know. Probably a wooden handle on it one time that is now long gone. Any ideas?

 

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[releventchair]

Could be a billhook .
Does appear to be made from a file.

 

[BIGSCOTT]

some people calls it a sicle, i calls it a sling blade ehh.

 

[namxat]

Looks like a pruning knife used in fruit tree cultivation or vineries. Would that fit into the area?
Reeding on the outside looks like somebody used an old file for smithing (not unusual to use file or spring steel for do it yourself smithing).

Greets Namxat

 

[A2coins]

Captain hooks arm

 

[pa plateau hiker]

I have found tools made from files. Yours is probably a one of a kind tool some blacksmith made from a file, and its purpose , we may never know.

 

[GB1]

it may have been a make shift hook to hold cotton

 

[gunsil]

Looks like a fascine knife made from a file. It no way dates to the 1850s since files are very high carbon steel which rusts very quickly.

 

[DCMatt]

If you found it in a mid-Atlantic state, I'd call it a tobacco knife (for harvesting).

 

[relic lover]

As a relic Hunter and a blacksmith I'm going to say definitely was a homemade knife made from a file.

 

[Goldiver]

Back on the farm we used a tool like this to cut corn stalks and called it a corn knife. However such a tool has a wide variety of uses such as clearing brush and tall grass from the electric fences.

Steve

 

[Rookster]

Oxen shoe repair tool.Thats what I do for a living.