Ron,
  A drift pin sounds interesting, but it still seems unlikely to me, because of the curved end. I would think that a drift pin, like a rail spike, would need to be hammered into place. But the curved top would make it hard to hammer this in where you wanted it to go. That's why I'm stumped. I can't figure out HOW it would be used, let alone for what?
  Meli

Ron May <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
  I have seen a similar object, which several sources identified as a drift 
pin. They have many uses, but were intended for temporarily holding something in 
place and then being pulled out at a later time. The one I had came from a 
ship's rudder and was similar in size. What was the historic context of your 
item?

Ron May
Legacy 106, Inc.


In a message dated 9/10/2008 8:31:32 A.M. Pacific Daylight Time, 
[log in to unmask] writes:

http://archaeoseek.ning.com/xn/detail/578807:Photo:27542





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