What is this spike for/from?

[thatguy]

Poor man's log splitter!

That is what my first thoughts are... "Got sledgehammer? = split firewood"

brian

 

[Chuck52]

I bet Blagadan is right. Looks like the big equivalent to the little feet in some chair and table legs.

Chuck

 

[Dozernut]

I believe it is a Wood Grenade, a splitting wedge for quartering firewood. Here is a link to a similar wedge. Lehman's - Products for Simple, Self-sufficient Living

 

[lopezian]

I believe it is a Wood Grenade, a splitting wedge for quartering firewood. Here is a link to a similar wedge. Lehman's - Products for Simple, Self-sufficient Living

It kind of looks like that, but I don't think so. notice that the wood grenade is solid between the flutes. Obviously it is meant to drive the wood apart and keep the cut from closing.

The found object is not like that at all. It has thin fluts that will split the wood, but only enough to get the object in. There is nothing between the flutes so the split wood will not be obstructed until it butts up against the bottom of the head.

I like Blagadan's explanation - it gets hammered into the end of a post, not to split the post but to protect it. Now can anyone find a modern equivalent?

 

[Dozernut]

lopezian, you could be right, I missed in the photo of it being solid between the flutes. If it is not a splitting wedge then it is a new one on me.

 

[jinman]

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.

Most of the protectors like you describe have a huge head and small diameter nail to just hold them in place...like a big thumbtack. This piece has a slight taper and then a more severe taper as it approaches the head that is 3" across. That's a huge piece to drive into anything. I'm skeptical... I'd challenge anyone to drive this into the end of a post without splitting it to pieces. I'm not saying it's impossible, just that I have a hard time accepting that use for this piece.

 

[curly]

... I'm skeptical... I'd challenge anyone to drive this into the end of a post without splitting it to pieces. I'm not saying it's impossible, just that I have a hard time accepting that use for this piece.

Yeah, that's a lotta metal to drive in just to keep the leg up outta water's way, really doubt that one. And I have some regular splitting wedges and a wood grenade. This don't look like it would be as handy to actually split the log...because it's not solid in the middle areas. Looks like it would go into the ground good, could it be a big ole tent peg or something similar to that...maybe for camp meeting size tents? Don't know, but I'm curious to see the real answer when it's found.

 

[N80]

I think jinman is on track. A splitting wedge should not have a head on it.

 

[HickoryNut]

I'm with DocHeb, timber frame mortise/tenon drift pin, most likely?

 

[Robert_in_NY]

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.

This isn't mine but I do not remember it looking abused.

There is no way this is a railroad spike either as we have plenty of those between the old trolley lines and active rail lines.

I appreciate everyones response though as I will tell the spikes owner what you guys are thinking and I know he will be happy.