Gleanings from the Franklin CW show.....

[Forrestcavalryman]

Re: Gleanings from the Franklin CW show.....

The "gate latch" looks just like a hoof pick that my dad had made by a blacksmith a few years back. He's used the hole in the end to put his finger in so he doesn't drop it in the dark, he's also tied a leather lanyard through it before.

[Paul L Muller]

Re: Gleanings from the Franklin CW show.....

He needs a MULLER PICK! plm

[Philip cav]

Re: Gleanings from the Franklin CW show.....

What type of Mueller Pick does he need? Regular or Confederate?

Pvt. Philip Brening

[Forrestcavalryman]

Re: Gleanings from the Franklin CW show.....

Here's some speculation on my part, what if both sides are right Could this have been a gate latch that an individual looked at and decided that it would make a great hoofpick after some modifications?

[Mike Ventura]

Re: Gleanings from the Franklin CW show.....

Ken - Just looked at the (perhaps) 14th century (or earlier?) horse shoe? Any provenance where it was found? Could the mark mean "Crusader" or perhaps Knights Templar? Just thinkin' out loud??

[TexCavly]

Re: Gleanings from the Franklin CW show.....

Larry I think all the iron on those shoes might have been in part to protect war horses from caltrops or tacks that the enemy would spread on the field to lame horses and men.

[Paul L Muller]

Re: Gleanings from the Franklin CW show.....

I made some caltrops for a demostration a few years ago. They are truly a horrible weapon that still gives me the shivers thinking about stepping one ,or worse...a horse! plm

[Philip cav]

Re: Gleanings from the Franklin CW show.....

Yeah those items look like they would hurt, allot. I would not want to step on one.

Pvt. Philip Brening

[Ken Knopp]

Re: Gleanings from the Franklin CW show.....

Mike, I was wondering the same thing. The shoe was found in Germany at a location with other 14th century artifacts. However, it could be much earlier. The imprint reminds me of the "alleged" Christian emblem or, as you said, Kinights of the Templar associated with the Crusades however, I say "alledged" cause I do remember some discrepency regarding the symbol and its association to the Crusades. I do not know much about that era and details so would refrain from speculating but it sure looks like that well known Christian Crusades emblem to me. That is, the one with the St. George's cross and the other crosses in each of the four corners. But again, I am very ignorant of this era, its symbols and their veracity.

Regarding coltrops, there is alot of mention of this item in other threads. In fact, a whole thread devoted to it somewhere as I recall. Coltrops,...."if" they were employed at all in our war, are much like germ warefare or the use of gas in WWI. That is, it may come back on you. As an army traversing the area you were just as likey to need those same roads as your opponent at some time so empolying coltrops may have as much negative effect on your side as the other. Not a good idea.

Ken R Knopp

[Paul L Muller]

Re: Gleanings from the Franklin CW show.....

I agree Ken, That's why I stopped using them! plm

[Philip cav]

Re: Gleanings from the Franklin CW show.....

Yeah I think coltrops were more in use earlier than our war. But I still don't want to step on one!

Pvt. Philip Brening