Small Axle or a type of punch for horseshoes?

Basher · Aug 8, 2018

Found this in a creek in the crack of huge slabs of bedrock. Would have been a good place for wagons to cross. The taper of the pin is odd and also the way the ends are mushroomed out. It has a look about it that makes me think it was blacksmithed by someone. This is my first find and I was excited to get all my snorkeling and digging pay off for something...just not sure what that something is!

waltr · Aug 8, 2018

The ends flared out like that is typical of simply being beat on with a hammer. All chisels get that way with use, same with punches, etc.
So flared ends are from being pounded into or out of what it fit in.

Interesting shape and quite possible wagon related. Or a punch.

Hoping someone here knows what it is.

Ice Scratcher · Aug 8, 2018

Looks like a tool called a drift...

<°)))>{

Gauntlet · Aug 8, 2018

Double barrel drift

ETA:

waltr · Aug 8, 2018

Thanks guys. Drift is the proper name that I and the OP were calling a punch.

Any idea how far back in time this drift design has been used?

MDLand · Aug 13, 2018

Google "granite quarry tools" my guess would be your answer may be found with this. since it was found in bedrock it may be associated with vintage granite harvesting. I find many chisels of all shapes and sizes when the quarry crews would pin and feather the huge granite boulders to crack them apart back in the 1800's, I would definitely say it's that especially if I found something that looks like that around here! Any signs of granite quarrying nearby?

Small Axle or a type of punch for horseshoes?

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