Interesting projectile

Atlantia · 1st October 2010, 12:25 AM

So now someone has to wait until the buyer leaves feedback then message him and ask if he knows what it is!

Berkley · 1st October 2010, 04:56 AM

I think broadaxe has it - a finial for a fence railing or gate. The flattened tail goes into a socket cast in the top of the railing and orients the blade/tip parallel to the axis; a through bolt perpendicular to the railing holds the finial in place. The use of separate individual finials cuts down the weight of the fence panel or gate for transportation and assembly.

katana · 1st October 2010, 10:55 PM

Hi Berkley,
I can see that is a possibillity, one I considered before posting but, several design features don't seem to add up.

If this object was to be mounted vertically (point up) having one fixing hole would not be very secure. The weight would try and rotate around the fixed point. More secure would be a minimum of two fixing points. The same scenario if mounted horizontally, less important if the object was to be mounted 'point down'.

One solution, to only have one fixing hole and making it secure, would be a shaped recess which prevented the 'rotational' forces, using the one hole to keep the 'object' in place.
The tail has a flatterned diamond shaped cross- section and an arc in the end section. To accommodate this securely it would be fitted into a slot with the same diamond cross-section, not an easy thing to manufacture, and unnecessary complication. As I mentioned before, I think, there is an unlikelihood of this ever having a shaft, as it would be better and much more advantageous to have the tail flat to fit a simple slot.

This is certainly becoming a "mystery item"

Link to auction...
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/HUGE-RARE-MEDI...item5195221a99

Kind Regards David

Berkley · 1st October 2010, 11:03 PM

FWIW, this type of finial is known in the trade as a "spear".

1st October 2010, 12:25 AM	#1
Atlantia Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: The Sharp end Posts: 2,928	So now someone has to wait until the buyer leaves feedback then message him and ask if he knows what it is!

1st October 2010, 04:56 AM	#2
Berkley Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Austin, Texas USA Posts: 257	I think broadaxe has it - a finial for a fence railing or gate. The flattened tail goes into a socket cast in the top of the railing and orients the blade/tip parallel to the axis; a through bolt perpendicular to the railing holds the finial in place. The use of separate individual finials cuts down the weight of the fence panel or gate for transportation and assembly.

1st October 2010, 10:55 PM	#3
katana Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Kent Posts: 2,658	Hi Berkley, I can see that is a possibillity, one I considered before posting but, several design features don't seem to add up. If this object was to be mounted vertically (point up) having one fixing hole would not be very secure. The weight would try and rotate around the fixed point. More secure would be a minimum of two fixing points. The same scenario if mounted horizontally, less important if the object was to be mounted 'point down'. One solution, to only have one fixing hole and making it secure, would be a shaped recess which prevented the 'rotational' forces, using the one hole to keep the 'object' in place. The tail has a flatterned diamond shaped cross- section and an arc in the end section. To accommodate this securely it would be fitted into a slot with the same diamond cross-section, not an easy thing to manufacture, and unnecessary complication. As I mentioned before, I think, there is an unlikelihood of this ever having a shaft, as it would be better and much more advantageous to have the tail flat to fit a simple slot. This is certainly becoming a "mystery item" Link to auction... http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/HUGE-RARE-MEDI...item5195221a99 Kind Regards David

1st October 2010, 11:03 PM	#4
Berkley Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Austin, Texas USA Posts: 257	FWIW, this type of finial is known in the trade as a "spear".