What is it?

[john_morris_uk]

I’ve found this in a box of bits in our daughters boat. Obviously one can use the spike for shackles or splicing but there seems to be more to it than just a spike. Why the slot? Or is that for shackle pins too? Why the appearance of an open ended spanner? Has anyone seen one before? Any suggestions gratefully received. (Except where to put it...)

 

[RobbieW]

Its a MarlinSpanner obvs dunno what the notch does other than weaken the shaft

 

[Biggles Wader]

Early example of a multi tool. Should be in a museum.

 

[Clancy Moped]

It looks like it had a handle at some point.

 

[Poignard]

A doobry

 

[Scotsailor]

It is a steel rule next to an odd piece of metal

 

[Poignard]

The thing to do is to throw it away. Shortly afterwards you will see an identical one on the Antiques Road Show worth a lot of money.

 

[jordanbasset]

The thing to do is to throw it away. Shortly afterwards you will see an identical one on the Antiques Road Show worth a lot of money.

Or you will find you need to repair something on the boat and it would have fitted it exactly

 

[LadyInBed]

As it looks to be home made, I would look around the deck rigging to see what the spanner end might fit - turn buckle maybe?
The slot is obviously for shackle pins with no hole.

 

[doug748]

Out of my depth here but is it something to do with serving rigging, pulling the twine tight, from the days of galvanized wire?

.

 

[Davy_S]

It looks like it had a handle at some point.

It did, its a bike spanner, back/ front wheel and spoke notch.

 

[Gary Fox]

Bike spanner (or pram maybe) something with wheel nuts and spokes anyway.

 

[john_morris_uk]

It did, its a bike spanner, back/ front wheel and spoke notch.

That might make sense although it’s a bit posh as it seems to be made from stainless steel.

I suppose the handle went on the pointy bit and was taken off so you could remove stones from horses hooves?

 

[LittleSister]

It would serve very well for threatening recalcitrant crew.

Handy hole in it for hanging somewhere aboard it will be seen regularly.

 

[Gary Fox]

Don't take it to your next football match, it could be construed as an offensive weapon.

 

[Channel Sailor]

I would guess a marlin spike that once folded back into a handle, plus it had a hefty locking mechanisum (which it would need).

 

[V1701]

So a bike spanner from the days when such things were made of decent metal that the handle fell off that someone took to the boat having realised it would make a marlin spike. The magic of the forum...

 

[Clancy Moped]

Bike tyre levers, clip round the ear for using and bending mums best cutlery.....

 

[penfold]

Out of my depth here but is it something to do with serving rigging, pulling the twine tight, from the days of galvanized wire?

.

I think you may have it; for splicing wire rope as you suggest, either with marline or soft iron wire.

 

[sarabande]

I guess it is modified.

The 'spanner' end looks as if it is a cut off full slot for shackle pin heads (? a shackle key )/

The small slot a quick fit for shackle pin heads.

The round hole for hanging it up on a rusty nail.