What's is this?

[The Feee Master]

I found this about 5 inches under ground, in my back yard, 4 inches long, almost 3/4 in wide.

 

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[SkaBa]

Possibly rope tensioner for a tent.

 

[digger460]

Frying pan handle

 

[Spats]

SkaBa is correct. It is a tent rope tensioner. There has always been controversy as to whether these were in use during the Civil War because so many have been found in Civil War campsites. Someone has previously posted patent information on these that dates the invention to shortly after the Civil War. That and the fact that nobody has produced a photo of these from the Civil War period indicates that they were not in use at that time.

 

[ivan salis]

post civil war era tent rope tightener---tent stake goes thru hole and into ground and rope goes thru loop and is drawn tight

 

[SkaBa]

Properly called a tent slip.

http://www.treasurenet.com/forums/what/320441-part-old-rifle.html

 

[sutphin]

TENT OBJECT.