reddog176 Posted April 2, 2012 Share Posted April 2, 2012 Greetings,I've been metal detecting around an old farmstead. The farmstead burned down around 1908, and have come across 5 (so far) horseshoe looking chunks of iron. For the size, I'll assume their draft horse shoes. They've got traction bars on the top, this I know. What's throwing me off is the pointed ends. Anyone have any insight into this?Reddog176 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MOblacksmith0530 Posted April 2, 2012 Share Posted April 2, 2012 Where are you or this homestead located? In the north? maybe for traction or travel on ice? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ridgewayforge Posted April 2, 2012 Share Posted April 2, 2012 Always possible they were repuposed as staples. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasPowers Posted April 2, 2012 Share Posted April 2, 2012 I would go with the staples too---were they located near one another? A simple gate can be made by having large staples in the fence posts that you can pull saplings through to close the gap and push them out to open it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SmoothBore Posted April 2, 2012 Share Posted April 2, 2012 A Horse has a more-or-less round hoof, ... those are Mule Shoes. The "toe caulk" is very common on the shoes of all draft animals, ... and was not necessarily intended for ice or snow applications. The lack of "heel caulks" is also common on Mule Shoes, ... however, I've never seen shoes with that sort of tapered heels. Perhaps it was a variation that was favored by the Farrier, ... or a necessary "orthopedic" design, intended to meet the special needs of one particular animal, ... or perhaps they were indeed "reworked" into some sort of "staple". This last option seems unlikely to me, because you'd think worn out shoes would most likely be "re-tasked" into some other device, ... and the toe caulks on the pictured shoe are not worn out. It's also unusual to find several similar shoes in close proximity to each other, ... as they were typically "lost" individually, ... and tend to be widely scattered. When an animal died the shoes were often removed, but they would then be "saved" in one location.. Truly an intriguing mystery ! . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wesley Chambers Posted April 2, 2012 Share Posted April 2, 2012 Agree with Smothbore, Mule Shoes, the heels of some mules and mostly donkeys are not built the same as horses and can be canted outward sometimes to a point. Drafts because of the build of the hind end will twist the hind feet as it impels forward but not so much on other breeds and would not be as needed on whatever wore these. Also I've seen more shapes and designs of shoes that you would ever imagine to have been on an animal but thats just how the business goes Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasPowers Posted April 2, 2012 Share Posted April 2, 2012 I've seen a lot of re-purposed shoes including the fence application I mentioned too. (as well as tack hooks and even door hinges) I've also seen dead animals left "as is" if they were not close to the house. Anymore info on the site details? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
reddog176 Posted April 2, 2012 Author Share Posted April 2, 2012 Where are you or this homestead located? In the north? maybe for traction or travel on ice? Yes, I'm in northeastern Pennsylvania. I would go with the staples too---were they located near one another? A simple gate can be made by having large staples in the fence posts that you can pull saplings through to close the gap and push them out to open it. One was located near the homestead site itself, 4 (and possibly more, as I got tired of digging) are located on the edges of an old overgrown roadway that lead to the house. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
reddog176 Posted April 2, 2012 Author Share Posted April 2, 2012 Here's a few more pictures for scale.https://picasaweb.google.com/108121855549135220107/MetalDetecting?authuser=0&feat=directlink Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasPowers Posted April 2, 2012 Share Posted April 2, 2012 What did the metal detector say about possible others in the area? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
reddog176 Posted April 2, 2012 Author Share Posted April 2, 2012 I did get back out today. I managed to find one more today, it's a bit narrower, but mostly the same. Mostly lots of barbed wire. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ferrous Beuler Posted April 2, 2012 Share Posted April 2, 2012 Hey reddog, get some Sanborn maps for your area and you will see where all the buildings were in the past, even outhouses. Dig an old privy and I guarantee you will find all sorts of stuff.http://collection1.libraries.psu.edu/cdm4/document.php?CISOROOT=/maps1&CISOPTR=3044&REC=2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
reddog176 Posted April 2, 2012 Author Share Posted April 2, 2012 Hey reddog, get some Sanborn maps for your area and you will see where all the buildings were in the past, even outhouses. Dig an old privy and I guarantee you will find all sorts of stuff.http://collection1.l...OPTR=3044&REC=2 I've been trying to locate sanborn's that cover where I am for the past year with no luck. I'm out in the sticks. I've got an outhouse dig I've been working on, but they filled the top 3 feet in with rocks and the diggings slow. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Old South Creations Posted April 4, 2012 Share Posted April 4, 2012 doesn't answer the question of "what is it?" but there is a similar shoe listed on eBayhttp://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-Blacksmith-Farrier-Handmade-Horseshoe-Metalworking-Wester-/160774524027?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item256ee88c7b Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tomhw Posted April 4, 2012 Share Posted April 4, 2012 I am voting "mule shoes" and venturing corrective shoes for the rear hooves to prevent interfearance. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigfootnampa Posted April 4, 2012 Share Posted April 4, 2012 I think they are staples. Notice the e-bay pic at the bottom... looks like that shoe was pounded on until it broke. Just the kind of damage that might be expected if a shoe is re-purposed as a staple. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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