Odd Bench Dog Thing ?

[wvtools]

Here is a whatsit I am getting ready to list on Ebay.  I am not sure what to even call it.  It kind of looks like maybe it went in a bench dog hole and you put a rod or dowel in the notch.

[Billman49]

Seen these before as whatsits - but cannot remember where (on this forum??_

[Adam]

They are very interesting looking. If they are hold downs its odd they don't have the paw at the end so only the tip of the tool holds the work piece. Since they were hand forged look for a use for forging. many old timer made tools to suit their needs.
I would list them as primitive. That will get people drooling LOL.

[keykeeper]

I think those are made to fit the pritchel hole of an anvil. May be a hold down of some sort.

[wvtools]

I think those are made to fit the pritchel hole of an anvil. May be a hold down of some sort.

It would only work in the pritchel hole of monster anvils.  It could be for the hardy hole though.  The post on one is 21/32 x 25/32, which would fit a lot of smaller and medium sized anvils.  OK, given that it is a hold down, what is the recess/groove in the end for, which would be sticking up if it was a hold down?

[Branson]

Seen these before as whatsits - but cannot remember where (on this forum??_

Yes, I remember them, too.  They were whatsits here on Tool Talk.  I don't think we ever had a decision about their use.

[BruceS]

I was thinking stone splitting feathers.   Placed in a hand drilled hole with a wedge between them and then struck to split stone in a quarry.

[bgarrett]

yes

[wvtools]

It does not look like any stone feather I have seen in person or in a catalog.

[JoeCB]

What I see as the defining characteristic of this "tool" is the crescent shaped concave end (see the last photo above the word "ruler"). That feature was purpose made to do something...Maybe a blacksmith's spring tool? Hammer blows on the folded over end could drive the "crescent" shape as a light duty necking tool.

Joe B

[Billman49]

How about a pair of handles for lifting/pulling something?? I could envisage pushing then into the ground, either side of a small wooden post or picket, (or held in place by a ring) and then the concave part would dig into the post when the handles are pulled.... Probably not that exact usage, but something similar strikes me as plausible....