✅ SOLVED Unknown iron artifact from 1812 tavern site (rural) in W. PA

[FindingHistory1]

Happy New Year, everyone! Found this iron relic yesterday at my favorite site in the woods - a long-gone tavern from War of 1812 (possibly the tavern was a log cabin due to lack of foundation & cellar hole, unless the foundation stone was recycled) in W. PA. I've recovered many relics and coins there going back to a blow-hole button and KG I coppers to 3 different denominations of Mexico City mint 1780-1790 Spanish reales, 2 NJ coppers, many flat and tombac buttons, etc. going up to newer stuff (1860's coinage). The location was rural back then. Farm nearby was active probably through early 1960s; not a whole lot of modern trash on the part of the site where I found this.

Object is about 6" long and maybe 2.5 inches wide, heavily corroded, pretty hefty iron, has one end that is spike-like or maybe stake-like that seems to be somewhat triangular in cross-section with "ridges", not sure whether or not that has been broken to some extent at its tip. The other end has a rectangular portion that looks like it had a rectangular hole through it (based on a small root going through it, and looks like a depression where the square/rectangular hole has been filled with rust), and beneath that are two little "arms" protruding out to the sides. "Front" and "back" views included in photos. The pic with the hammer shows a side view.

I have no clue if this is of 1780s-1820 vintage or newer, or whether it has something to do with farming, transport (hitch?, doesn't look like a reins guide that I know of unless it's a very bulky one), masonry, household/kitchen/hearth (maybe hammered into a log wall like a tent stake with a tie-down on the rectangular end??), tavern, military, or what. Could be a 1950's tractor part for all I know, but I doubt it based on the heavy corrosion. Seems way too heavy to be associated with anything like a sword but I could be wrong.

Thanks for taking a look, and in advance for any input if it rings a bell with anyone.

 

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[wilsondog]

Iron Barrel Tap!? consistent with general shape and historical use of property.

 

[ARC]

Its a harrow spike tine. EDI T - SICKLE SPike. :P

 

[smokeythecat]

AARC is right. I tend to call them sickle bar mower pieces.

 

[TheCannonballGuy]

Smokeythecat is correct... it is definitely a Sickle-Bar Mower cutting-tooth guard (for farm harvesting hay & etc., not for mowing your lawn). See the closeup photos below... plus another photo and a drawing, showing the complete Sickle-Bar Mower.

 

[Fat]

That is a sickle guard.
A sickle section is attached to a sickle bar they both go through a sickle guard. The crop is cut on either side of the guard when the sickle is pushed and pulled threw the guard, it chops a little bite each pass. Your machine will have a series of these.
The pattern that type of mower leaves is a herring bone kind of style? a native grass meadow. It is really beautiful for a few days and than the grass grows again and kind of melts it away
The whole machine can be very frustrating and when some parts get warn.

Brb, with harrow tooth

 

[FindingHistory1]

Wow, thanks so much to all who replied - I am amazed how fast you all responded, and indeed AARC nailed it right away despite its state of heavy corrosion! That "rib" going down the spike-end of the tine definitely gives it away. Much appreciated! Thank you all for taking the time to respond, and for taking the time to post the great pics and information (AARC, TheCannonballGuy and Fat). Now I know what it is, and that is satisfying! Aerial photos of woods in 1939 and 1936 show it as pasture, so that's very consistent with it being probably a hay field that needed mowing around the time that this harrow/sickle bar mower tine/sickle guard broke off.

Cannonball Guy, I do recall seeing these for sure on my grandpa's farm as he had a bunch of old machinery, although I was a little boy (probably almost 45 years ago) so I don't recall looking at the tines close-up. Wish I could go back in time and talk to him, born in 1903 and I remember him telling my brother and me about how he walked with his brothers about 10 miles to my home town in NW Ohio during the great flood of 1913 and seeing horse-drawn steam fire engines responding to a call with bells clanging.

Take care, all!

 

[ARC]

Hmmm did I call it incorrectly ?

Wow and Google search for picture for me to post yielded.

OR are they "similar" ?

OR ... you know... Like Cheech From Cheech and Chong would say "you know... Different... but the same".

:P

 

[ARC]

Just re-searched... I think I was incorrect in the name... Sickle tooth I guess.

For some reason I thought "harrow"... BUT when I searched harrow spike tine... there was pic so I did a "grab and go". heh

Hey... bare with me... I have only even stepped on a farm to metal detect or pet some animals.

:P

 

[Fat]

......Hey man, it’s me open the door........ Dave’s not here

Harrow teeth

 

[Fat]

There is also a head on the sickle bar or just call (the sickle), pitman stick and a thing that goes around and round it drives everything back and forth if don’t grease you learn how to replace. and a breakaway thing if you grease it’s a dirty hay field trick to pull on rookie because it breaks away too much.


Interesting but stooopid... laugh in?

....I think it was problem was warn out and tossed. have a cutting edge. The top pic of cannon looks like it is broke too. The sickle slides between a gap top and bottom are on the guard than the channel for rivets that hold sickle section on the bar.
You plug up and than it leaves a strip and more get off machine fix get on machine go till something else breaks..
A sickle will only stay sharp so long than stop. Replace with sharp one. “Step up yah” go for another 30 min. Knock out a section, plug ,whoa(stop) unplug, fix pull out fix or if have enough just put whole new assembly in and go again.
After supper sharpen, replace sections guards, sleep under the stars..

 

[pa-dirt_nc-sand]

I find these at many of my old lost farm sites in Allegheny county. I always thought they were plow pieces. Good ID’s from the Tnet team.

 

[releventchair]

Just re-searched... I think I was incorrect in the name... Sickle tooth I guess.

For some reason I thought "harrow"... BUT when I searched harrow spike tine... there was pic so I did a "grab and go". heh

Hey... bare with me... I have only even stepped on a farm to metal detect or pet some animals.

:P

Stone/Rock guard. They defend the teeth/sickle sections..

Harrow spike drags use spikes.
Spring harrows too. At least mine has a row of spikes on the rear.