Featured Looks like a trident, but .....

Hey folks,

A new item here to be identified. This was found in our museum -- it's a trident looking pitchfork with a very short and sharpened prong in the middle. There used to be a wood handle on the top side, if that helps. Not very useful for picking up hay if you ask me. Anyone out there with any ideas?

Very much appreciated!

 

It's a boat anchor - just jam it into the river bottom - LOL!

But really, there are antique 3 prong pitchforks - could be center tine got broke off and was ground to a point?? Just a WAG............

 

maybe for logs....

 

Good idea - or a fireplace fork used by a blacksmith??

 

Not a clue, is it metal or wood? can't tell from photo.

 

It kinda looks like a eel/frog gig. The prongs facing outwards, and the center part being so short... dunno.

 

it's gigantic!

 

eel spears.......have a lot more goin on....

 

Unless I'm reading the pull tape wrong the 2 outside tines are only 8 or 9" long? "Logs or frogs?" - funny, small logs BIG frogs -

 

There are a number of three prong versions in that picture, including one with the prongs pointing outward, interestingly. Quiet the variety of sizes also.

 

LOL - I need that guy to rake my leaves in the fall!

 

Perhaps for manipulating smaller dimension logs (some consistent size that would fit between the outer arms), like when building a log cabin?

 

or for "unclogging" a log jam on the river? Or for toasting very large marshmallows?

 

To me, the piece has very thin points that I think would warp/snap if you were working with logs. Could be wrong. Here's a typical tool for working with logs.

https://www.worthpoint.com/worthopedia/vintage-antique-logging-pike-1912367535

 

OH, that's a wood spike - nothing like what is wondering about!!

 

I was replying to the post above mine, which mentioned unclogging a log jam. What I linked is something that would have been used for such a purpose...

 

thanks, that's still very large in my opinion, I would think for LOGS not frogs lol

 

They scale up. Obviously the one in question isn't for frogs... I just said it looked similar to ones used for eel/frog hunting. They come in a wide variety of sizes/shapes, as evident by the picture posted by komokwa.

You want big, here you go.

https://www.worthpoint.com/worthopedia/antique-ft-prong-spear-trident-1787028279 .

So yea, I was going with hunting/fishing and not log manipulation.

 

I have found similar being called a "pot lifter"- as in removing pots from a fire.

Haven't found the right search terms to find credible documentation of such, but throw it out there for consideration.

 

Thanks @Kronos , much appreciated!