Jeremiah Posted February 18, 2011 Share Posted February 18, 2011 I found this while dismantling an old log structure in eastern TN. It must have been in the chinking and my first thought was that is was a spear point but that seemed like a rare thing to find, so I thought maybe a letter opener. It has a flat side on the blade with the other side having a triangular profile. The two notches make me think of attaching a spearhead using sinew, as in an arrow. I think it may be wrought iron due to the grain and lack of oxidation. What do you guys think? Sorry for the crappy pics. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tim McCoy Posted February 18, 2011 Share Posted February 18, 2011 IMHO it resembles a military bayonet - you can go to this link to see most country's styles of bayonets. Great find at any rate - http://www.arms2armor.com/Bayonets/bayonets.htm Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve Shimanek Posted February 18, 2011 Share Posted February 18, 2011 Pike or a plug bayonet? Cool find. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MattBower Posted February 18, 2011 Share Posted February 18, 2011 Could be a plug bayonet. I don't know for sure, but I do know just the guy to ask! Stand by. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MattBower Posted February 18, 2011 Share Posted February 18, 2011 I sent the pics to an archaeologist who works in east Tennessee. He says: "Aha! That's the cast iron spike off a lightning rod. We get those a lot on old homesteads." Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sam Falzone Posted February 18, 2011 Share Posted February 18, 2011 I found this while dismantling an old log structure in eastern TN. It must have been in the chinking and my first thought was that is was a spear point but that seemed like a rare thing to find, so I thought maybe a letter opener. It has a flat side on the blade with the other side having a triangular profile. The two notches make me think of attaching a spearhead using sinew, as in an arrow. I think it may be wrought iron due to the grain and lack of oxidation. What do you guys think? Sorry for the crappy pics. Definitely a bayonet - question is ... whose? American? British? French? Talk to your local museum curator, maybe they have a weapons specialist that can point you in the right derection. That is a cool history mystery ... I am totally jealous. Congrats. That's one heck of a conversation piece. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MattBower Posted February 18, 2011 Share Posted February 18, 2011 :rolleyes: :lol: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeremiah Posted February 18, 2011 Author Share Posted February 18, 2011 Wow, that is really cool! I will see what I can find out and let you guys know. Thank you so much! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bentiron1946 Posted February 18, 2011 Share Posted February 18, 2011 I just don't see it as a bayonet. At least not with a 26" blade and 12" tang anyway. What does the end of the tang look like, a rivet maybe? If so perhaps this is a rapier like weapon. If not it may be a pike, an awful long blade for a pike though. It just doesn't have a shape that is conducive for a bayonet. It has no socket, it has the wrong type of blade for most of the plug bayonets that I have seen and the plug ends were not 12" long. Just dosen't seem like a bayonet blade. ;) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mainely,Bob Posted February 18, 2011 Share Posted February 18, 2011 I believe Matt correctly identified the mystery object. I`ve seen these up here a time or two used on the decorative metal roof caps on some of the really old houses.The reason the "tang" is so long is it goes through a glass insulator.Some of the ridge caps have 3 or more of these lightning protectors. All the ones I`ve seen have been wrought iron rather than cast iron though.That explains the grain in the ones in the pic. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fosterob Posted February 18, 2011 Share Posted February 18, 2011 I just don't see it as a bayonet. At least not with a 26" blade and 12" tang anyway. His tape reads metric that would be 26cm and 12 cm or the other side of the tape 12 inches and 4 1/2 inches. Rob Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rustyshackleford Posted February 19, 2011 Share Posted February 19, 2011 I fail to see what 'definitely' makes it a bayonet. While the (apparently) triangular shape is congruent with bayonets of the AWI and CW, it shows a lack of hollow grinding on the flats, or socket for fitting over the barrel of the gun. Plug Bayonets were outdated for all practical purposes by the time that guns would have been carried by anyone making a log cabin in TN, and this does not fit the typical profile for such an item (which was normally wide and flat) Sounds like the archaeologist knows what he's looking at. Neat find nonetheless, thanks OP! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sam Falzone Posted February 20, 2011 Share Posted February 20, 2011 I just don't see it as a bayonet. At least not with a 26" blade and 12" tang anyway. What does the end of the tang look like, a rivet maybe? If so perhaps this is a rapier like weapon. If not it may be a pike, an awful long blade for a pike though. It just doesn't have a shape that is conducive for a bayonet. It has no socket, it has the wrong type of blade for most of the plug bayonets that I have seen and the plug ends were not 12" long. Just dosen't seem like a bayonet blade. Having checked out that website on bayonets I have to agree that it probably isn't a bayonet. Bayonets with triangular cross-section blades had barrel sockets not tangs. Bayonets with tangs had knife or sword blades. BUT ... that looks like a 10" long blade with a ricasso, and that other end looks like a 4" tang. The funny thing is, that the thing it looks most like to me is even more unlikely to be found in the chinking of a log cabin in TN. This looks most like a main gauche blade. It was a parrying blade carried in the off-sword hand. I've seen triangular cross-section blades like epees - I'm not sure if these are only modern styles or historical patterns. Besides ... would a log cabin even need a lightning rod? Barns I can understand. Multi-story houses too ... but a log cabin? I just don't know enough about this. I guess I'm disappointed in the possibility. I had images of an old civ-war bayonet with a great story to tell. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Silverhill Forge Posted February 20, 2011 Share Posted February 20, 2011 You never know............ It could be a murder weapon! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fosterob Posted February 20, 2011 Share Posted February 20, 2011 It could be a murder weapon! OOOH the drama... i can hardly wait till the next episode of as the cabin turns :D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fosterob Posted February 20, 2011 Share Posted February 20, 2011 Or is it the days of our cabin :lol: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MattBower Posted February 21, 2011 Share Posted February 21, 2011 The fact that it was in the chinking may suggest that the cabin owner didn't think he needed a lightning rod. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fosterob Posted February 21, 2011 Share Posted February 21, 2011 The fact that it was in the chinking may suggest that the cabin owner didn't think he needed a lightning rod. Or that he wanted to keep it from the authorities :o Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fosterob Posted February 21, 2011 Share Posted February 21, 2011 Find out when the cabin was built and who was murdered at the time- mystery solved about who the perpetrator was. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve Sells Posted February 21, 2011 Share Posted February 21, 2011 you may have found Jimmy Hoffa! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
divermike Posted February 22, 2011 Share Posted February 22, 2011 I would like to put forth further conjecture that it might have been put there in remembrance of a past loved one, or symbolically buried after some event. In any event, coooollll! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Don A Posted February 22, 2011 Share Posted February 22, 2011 Hey! I was wondering where I left that. What county are you in? Just curious. I'm in E. TN, and I love to prowl for old stuff. Good find, Don Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeremiah Posted February 22, 2011 Author Share Posted February 22, 2011 White Pine, TN is where log home is and I live in Lee County, VA. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hillbillyblacksmith Posted February 25, 2011 Share Posted February 25, 2011 looks to me to be a stiletto dagger the three sides where for armor piercing. pretty sure that's what it is goggled a few before I replied too bad its not complete they seem to be worth a bit when they are old some date back to 17th century or more. either way nice find :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ianinsa Posted February 25, 2011 Share Posted February 25, 2011 Well, if you heat the tang and stick it in the end of a stout 8ft shaft, you could hop on your horse and have the meanest 'pig sticker' this side of the kyber pass! Regards Ian Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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