Interesting projectile

[fearn]

1700s and catapault don't normally go together in my vocabulary, but whatever, I'm open to being wrong.

I'll be interested to hear what others think, but I find myself thinking in terms of sounding lines or similar. Tie this to the end of a line, let it drop and embed, and drag back whatever it's attached to.

Best,

F

[Atlantia]

Sorry, just don't see it.
Can't say I'm sure what this was, but I can't see it being fired from anything, or being an effective projectile if it was!
What sort of a groove would soething that shape fit in?
How would it be 'pushed'?
It's got a weight in the middle!
Looks like it was meant to be hung from something.

LOL, like Fearn though, I'm open to being proved wrong on this one!
What did you think David?

[M ELEY]

Hmmm...seems like I saw something like this associated with whaling, like the end of a harpoon? Sorry, my sleep-addled brain can't remember it for sure-


Here we go(after a related search of whaling and harpoon guns)-

www.busaccagallery.com/catalog.php?catid=62

http://www.americanhistory.si.edu/on...ition/3_7.html

www.whalecraft.net/Shoulder_Gun_Irons.html

www.whalecraft.net/Swivel%20Guns.html

[katana]

Thanks for the replies .....as I thought, not likely catapult ammo. I agree that it probably was 'hung', I think it may be a 'heavy duty' plumb line ....the spear end providing an accurate pointer.

Fearn's is a good suggestion, but I think using this as a 'sounding' device, runs the risk of it being snagged/embedded on the bottom, or giving false readings if the 'bottom' was soft silt and the item embedded itself deeply.

Thanks Mark for the links.The whaling connection sounds interesting....and if it is right, the buyer probably did well....Whaling implements seem to command high prices.

Still, it could even be something else

Kind Regards David

[fernando]

Hi David,
Peculiar thing
Hardly a plumb bob, or any kind of plummet; both rear and 'ball' would not have an irregular shape ... even the arrow head. Those things are perfectly concentric; may spin freely without compromise; isn't that so?
Also hardly a sinker; too many irregular forms again .
An harpoon head would be more likely ... although not definitely that.
Let people carry on digging .

[fearn]

Hi All,

I wasn't thinking exactly of a plumb bob, but of something that you'd want to embed in something else. Thanks to M. Eley, it might be something like thispatent whale hoist. These are obviously not the same thing, but if you string a line in the fin, it's going to drop point first, and the weight means that it's going to hit something reasonably hard. So, I guess the question is, can you use it to retrieve something off the bottom?

I do like all those whaling tools. It's a good thing they don't show up here, or we'd all get pretty confused.

Best,

F

[fernando]

Originally Posted by fearn

... I do like all those whaling tools. It's a good thing they don't show up here, or we'd all get pretty confused...

Yes ... as we might as well keep sensitive enough to avoid widening the scope of the topic by entering too deep into certain parts of the whale scenario... if you people know what i mean .

[katana]

Hi 'Nando ,
I found a reference to a medieval plumb weight which was made from lead in the shape of a fish, with a hole for the cord, in the middle of the fish's tail. You could argue that the 'projectile' has a 'fishy' shape. I'm still thinking it could be a plumb weight used for larger buildings especially if the seller's date range is accurate

Perhaps a ballista / harpoon head ....the hole could be for a rivet to attach to a shaft or in the case of a harpoon head a retrieval line.
It does seem very well made for an item that is 'fired' once, but with a harpoon you would expect to be able to retrieve it .....but the lack of bad corrosion seems to suggest it didn't see a lot of salt water

All the best
David

PS Fearn,
I agree the 'whale hoist' has interesting similarities but does not have 'guide rings' to direct the dart via another rope. I think the problem with using this to retrieve items from the seabed are that first of all you need to be able to see it, water currents could easily push a 2lbs weight 'off course' and the item would have to be 'spearable'

Looking again at the 'dart'....the 'ring' which gives most of the weight has four flattened faces....as this would require more time/effort to produce, it suggests that these facets aid the function ...perhaps to prevent 'rolling'