What is this spike for/from?

[Robert_in_NY]

A while ago we were working on a job and the old feller who owned the house showed me this spike. He has no idea what it is for or from and it baffled me also so I figure someone on here will know.

 

[farmerjim]

possibly something from the railroad? my dads uncle worked for the railroad and he had some spikes that looked similar to that, laying around.

 

[gordon21]

Surveyers spike or benchmark???

 

[riptides]

I'd go with gordon21 suggestion.

The rail spikes I have are more rectangular in shape.

-Mike Z.

 

[jinman]

Since it is tapered, I think it is something used to spread something or as a splitting wedge. I think railroad spikes and others used to hold things together are pointed, but have consistent size for most of the spike. This spike was probably driven into the end of a tenon after insertion into a mortise to tighten the joint, or as a simple splitting wedge for firewood. The reason I have doubts about using it as a splitter is because the head is flared. Most splitting wedges I have seen have no head on them.

 

[Podunkadunk]

That's a Texas finishing nail.

 

[DocHeb]

I agree with Jim about the mortise and tenon relationship, but suggest a different use - I think it is a Drift Pin equivalent to align holes for the big white oak pins used in timber frame mortise and tenon joints.

Not speaking as someone who "knows", but as someone who is guessing.

 

[Trainer]

Since I stayed in a Holiday Inn Express one time, I can tell you what it is. That is a shoe nail from Paul Bunyan's boot.

The way it is fluted, suggests it is not meant to be a strong device such as a rail spike. The 3" head and 9" long also tends to eliminate the rail spike. Other than not knowing what it is for, I don't know what it is for.

 

[JimWalch]

Poor man's log splitter!

 

[Blagadan]

I have something similar to this. I found mine hammered into the end of a post that was in a barn. It was part of a movable partition wall. We guessed it was to stop water wicking up into the bottom of the post. This piece was hammered in to the post and would have done the job of keeping the end of the post up off the ground. Have a look at yours. Is the bottom part of it (the domed bit) all scraped like it was dragged around? Mine has a more curved dome than yours but essentially looks identical. Yours could be worn down a bit.