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.

 

[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.