Cal_ Posted January 22 Share Posted January 22 Anybody have any idea what purpose this relic might have served? It appears hand forged and has a very sharp tip. It was found metal detecting an old farm house in southern Indiana. Also found a couple hand forged chain links with it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CPT_GhostLight Posted January 22 Share Posted January 22 Unfortunately, I can't ID it, but I found something very similar and would also like to know what it is. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JCR Posted January 22 Share Posted January 22 It is a soldering iron. Get yourself a pretty corn cob for a handle, tin the tip and you are in business as a Tinkerer. 8 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GaryC/Oregon Coast Posted January 22 Share Posted January 22 Beat me to the punch by one minute! GaryC/Oregon Coast 2 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cal_ Posted January 22 Author Share Posted January 22 Yes CPT_ the relic at the top of the photo does appear to be quite similar. 3 hours ago, CPT_GhostLight said: Unfortunately, I can't ID it, but I found something very similar and would also like to know what it is. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GB_Amateur Posted January 22 Share Posted January 22 Time for a second (or is it 3rd?) opinion. Compare to the following: (I should have put a scale in the picture, as you did -- total length is 9 inches. Metal handle cross section is about 5/8" x 3/8".) This is in my tool collection but I don't know its history. (I did not find it detecting.) Advertising on the handle is for a laundry in downtown Indianapolis -- probably in the ballpark of a century old. My thought is it's an awl for punching holes in leather, etc. I agree that CPT_G's is a primitive soldering iron. The fat end is what gets heated up, possibly in an open flame. I have one like that somewhere in my colletion but with a different handle than his. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cal_ Posted January 22 Author Share Posted January 22 52 minutes ago, GB_Amateur said: Time for a second (or is it 3rd?) opinion. Compare to the following: (I should have put a scale in the picture, as you did -- total length is 9 inches. Metal handle cross section is about 5/8" x 3/8".) This is in my tool collection but I don't know its history. (I did not find it detecting.) Advertising on the handle is for a laundry in downtown Indianapolis -- probably in the ballpark of a century old. My thought is it's an awl for punching holes in leather, etc. I agree that CPT_G's is a primitive soldering iron. The fat end is what gets heated up, possibly in an open flame. I have one like that somewhere in my colletion but with a different handle than his. Interesting GB_ , looks sort of like an ice pick to me. The idea of a hole punch is also interesting for your and my item both. 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
F350Platinum Posted January 22 Share Posted January 22 Couldn't find anything in the usual searches, but I keep thinking awl or leather punch of some sort. It does resemble an old soldering iron tho. 🤔 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GB_Amateur Posted January 23 Share Posted January 23 1 hour ago, Cal_ said: ...Sort of like an ice pick to me. That makes sense. Those were popular & useful prior to freon refrigerators. The handle on mine is just right for gripping to jam into a block of ice. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rvpopeye Posted January 23 Share Posted January 23 Whatever it was , if you can solder something with it . It's a soldering iron. Not rec for trons though 😳 Don't try that , you will fail bigly. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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