Questions about rebar

fernando · 7th June 2017, 09:27 AM

More like Miscellania section, i'd say, Mark.
Here we go

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M ELEY · 7th June 2017, 03:13 PM

Thanks, Fernando-

Still trying to resize the pics...

M ELEY · 7th June 2017, 06:11 PM

Another...

M ELEY · 7th June 2017, 06:14 PM

More...

This whole piece, although partially cast (?) and of rebar, appears to be blacksmith made, with hammer tooling, primitive construction. Note to top securing ring. This piece was reportedly found at the coast of North Carolina, (my state) the 'Graveyard of the Atlantic'.

M ELEY · 7th June 2017, 06:37 PM

There were essentially three different types of grapples or grappling irons found on ships. Most were the small, dainty ones used to retrieve a lost bucket or to haul over small items from another ship or shore. A slightly larger version (the French called this one a 'grapin a main'), while the largest, such as my example, was far too large and heavy to be thrown. This example had two uses, first as an anchor in smaller craft or as a support anchor to assist the main anchor. Secondly, they were used to secure two ships together during a boarding action. They would be hung from the tips of the mast spars so that as the they came alongside their enemies, the giant grapples would catch their enemies sails/ropes and snare them. Info on these can be found in 'French Warship Crews 1789-1805' - T. Crowley, Osprey Publishing, pg.63, also plate H, #7. See also 'Pirate'- R. Platt, DK Eyewitness Books, pg 7 for an excellent example.

My example stands 40" tall, about 18" wide where the spikes flare out, has the said ribbing to the main body of the hook and appears to be partially cast. Where so much confusion comes in, even with the literature, is in trying to find out the facts. Most people associate cast iron with late 19th, yet cast metal certainly dates much earlier. Rebar is also associated with modern construction/late 19th, yet rebar has existed since the 1600's. Here we have this giant grapple, nice blackened brown patina of an early construction (spines end in spikes on two of them, flattened flukes on the other two).

I'm just trying to age this thing! If early 19th, as I suspect, it could easily have been used for boarding. If more mid- to late 19th, probably just an anchor.

Pics of the spikes...

M ELEY · 7th June 2017, 08:08 PM

In pic 5 above, you get a great view of the spiral iron shaft of the main body. You can also see the side seam, indicating it was cast???

Knowing nothing of the art of blacksmithing other then what I get to see on 'Forged in Fire' (a great show, BTW!), I was wondering if perhaps this isn't rebar at all but so called twist core iron? Any smiths out there?

At the end of the 18th/early 19th century, so called 'ribbed iron' hilts were the craze on Brit/Amer cutlasses of the period. Were these type hilts cast? I believe they were, so...

7th June 2017, 03:13 PM	#2
M ELEY Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: NC, U.S.A. Posts: 2,141	Thanks, Fernando- Still trying to resize the pics... Attached Images Last edited by M ELEY; 7th June 2017 at 06:08 PM.

7th June 2017, 06:11 PM	#3
M ELEY Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: NC, U.S.A. Posts: 2,141	Another... Attached Images

7th June 2017, 06:14 PM	#4
M ELEY Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: NC, U.S.A. Posts: 2,141	More... This whole piece, although partially cast (?) and of rebar, appears to be blacksmith made, with hammer tooling, primitive construction. Note to top securing ring. This piece was reportedly found at the coast of North Carolina, (my state) the 'Graveyard of the Atlantic'. Attached Images Last edited by M ELEY; 7th June 2017 at 06:42 PM.

7th June 2017, 06:37 PM	#5
M ELEY Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: NC, U.S.A. Posts: 2,141	There were essentially three different types of grapples or grappling irons found on ships. Most were the small, dainty ones used to retrieve a lost bucket or to haul over small items from another ship or shore. A slightly larger version (the French called this one a 'grapin a main'), while the largest, such as my example, was far too large and heavy to be thrown. This example had two uses, first as an anchor in smaller craft or as a support anchor to assist the main anchor. Secondly, they were used to secure two ships together during a boarding action. They would be hung from the tips of the mast spars so that as the they came alongside their enemies, the giant grapples would catch their enemies sails/ropes and snare them. Info on these can be found in 'French Warship Crews 1789-1805' - T. Crowley, Osprey Publishing, pg.63, also plate H, #7. See also 'Pirate'- R. Platt, DK Eyewitness Books, pg 7 for an excellent example. My example stands 40" tall, about 18" wide where the spikes flare out, has the said ribbing to the main body of the hook and appears to be partially cast. Where so much confusion comes in, even with the literature, is in trying to find out the facts. Most people associate cast iron with late 19th, yet cast metal certainly dates much earlier. Rebar is also associated with modern construction/late 19th, yet rebar has existed since the 1600's. Here we have this giant grapple, nice blackened brown patina of an early construction (spines end in spikes on two of them, flattened flukes on the other two). I'm just trying to age this thing! If early 19th, as I suspect, it could easily have been used for boarding. If more mid- to late 19th, probably just an anchor. Pics of the spikes... Attached Images

7th June 2017, 09:27 AM	#1
fernando (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Portugal Posts: 9,694	More like Miscellania section, i'd say, Mark. Here we go .

7th June 2017, 08:08 PM	#6
M ELEY Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: NC, U.S.A. Posts: 2,141	In pic 5 above, you get a great view of the spiral iron shaft of the main body. You can also see the side seam, indicating it was cast??? Knowing nothing of the art of blacksmithing other then what I get to see on 'Forged in Fire' (a great show, BTW!), I was wondering if perhaps this isn't rebar at all but so called twist core iron? Any smiths out there? At the end of the 18th/early 19th century, so called 'ribbed iron' hilts were the craze on Brit/Amer cutlasses of the period. Were these type hilts cast? I believe they were, so...