Boarding pike? What is it?

russel · 24th August 2013, 02:17 AM

Thank you, that is great information. Do the stamped initials T.R.y.s. ring any bells?

M ELEY · 24th August 2013, 04:06 AM

Opps! I've been calling it a gig and what I meant to say was that it is a gaff!! Sorry!

I was looking at the stamp, hoping that it might be a ship's name, dockyard name, etc. Likewise, if it had been a number, it might have been a locker/rack number on a ship. More than likely, it is the maker of the tool. Perhaps a google search under shipping/tools? Do you acquire this piece in Australia? Perhaps searching for local tool makers in the 19th c. Although blacksmith-made, for the piece to be stamped, it was a better than average example.

russel · 25th August 2013, 11:48 AM

Thanks again,
I am not the owner, but he will be pleased to read your assessment. I'll try our local maritime Museum.
Cheers, Russel

trenchwarfare · 28th August 2013, 11:36 PM

Looks sorta like an elephant goad to me. With just a rat-tail tang, and no rivets, it wouldn't pull much weight. Unless, the head was lashed to the shaft via the ring.

Timo Nieminen · 29th August 2013, 02:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by trenchwarfare

Looks sorta like an elephant goad to me. With just a rat-tail tang, and no rivets, it wouldn't pull much weight. Unless, the head was lashed to the shaft via the ring.

It does look the part. I've considered using a boat-hook head for making a long-hafted elephant goad.

(I find that "boat hook" is a common guess for "What is this?" when you show people an elephant goad. Not as almost-universal as "napkin ring" for a Chinese archer's thumb ring, but common.)

russel · 29th August 2013, 02:40 AM

I had thought about an elephant goad, buy the scale doesn't seem right. At 25cm (10") across is it not rather large for an elephant goad?

machinist · 29th August 2013, 03:10 AM

It looks a bit like a loggers pike pole.

24th August 2013, 02:17 AM	#1
russel Member Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Tasmania, Australia Posts: 236	Thank you, that is great information. Do the stamped initials T.R.y.s. ring any bells?

24th August 2013, 04:06 AM	#2
M ELEY Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: NC, U.S.A. Posts: 2,159	Opps! I've been calling it a gig and what I meant to say was that it is a gaff!! Sorry! I was looking at the stamp, hoping that it might be a ship's name, dockyard name, etc. Likewise, if it had been a number, it might have been a locker/rack number on a ship. More than likely, it is the maker of the tool. Perhaps a google search under shipping/tools? Do you acquire this piece in Australia? Perhaps searching for local tool makers in the 19th c. Although blacksmith-made, for the piece to be stamped, it was a better than average example.

25th August 2013, 11:48 AM	#3
russel Member Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Tasmania, Australia Posts: 236	Thanks again, I am not the owner, but he will be pleased to read your assessment. I'll try our local maritime Museum. Cheers, Russel

28th August 2013, 11:36 PM	#4
trenchwarfare Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Posts: 385	Looks sorta like an elephant goad to me. With just a rat-tail tang, and no rivets, it wouldn't pull much weight. Unless, the head was lashed to the shaft via the ring.

29th August 2013, 02:40 AM	#6
russel Member Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Tasmania, Australia Posts: 236	I had thought about an elephant goad, buy the scale doesn't seem right. At 25cm (10") across is it not rather large for an elephant goad?

29th August 2013, 03:10 AM	#7
machinist Member Join Date: Oct 2010 Posts: 93	It looks a bit like a loggers pike pole.