Interesting projectile

[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 .

[Matchlock]

Hi David,

My only guess: not more that one hundred years old.

Best,
Michael

[fernando]

Originally Posted by Matchlock

Hi David,

My only guess: not more that one hundred years old.

Best,
Michael

Ah Michl, you came first, while i was writing my longer post!

[katana]

Hi Michael and 'Nando,
the patina does suggest that it is not as ancient as the seller suggests....Victorian ? or perhaps stored in 'ideal conditions'.

How about the pointer from a simple (but large) inclinometer ? or mounted on a ship's beam, to freely pivot (nail through the hole) to measure the pitch or roll of a ship ?? possibly, but extremely unlikely.

The 'tail' section had a diamond cross section, I think if this was to be fixed statically I would expect one or both sides to be flat. For the same reason I think a harpoon head is also unlikely, a flat profile would allow more accurate fitting to a shaft. (+ the fact, that large harpoons were nearly all marked with the ship, or owners initials, or the maker etc)

Some sort of decorative counter weight or pendulum ??

Regards David

[fernando]

Hi again David,
I don't think that the relation between section lengths and volumes complies with a heavy duty capture device; too short for penetration, assuming the ball is a stopper.
Besides, it has no profile to be thrown from a gun, as Gene already advanced.
I am still skeptical about the pending weight version; i don't know why, just don't see it like that.
Why not a static implement? the hole to fix it somewhere?
But tell me, do you still think its age dates back to XVII century? that old indeed?

[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'