Tongs, Metalworking

A very unusual bit tong of unknown style. The tong looks to have been modified for a special use, a crude 3/4"x 2 3/4'" iron bar has been welded to the tong or bit aspect of tong itself. The opposite side is a 1" wide crude J shaped bar also welded to the tong/bit handle, a carriage bolt assembly hammered on one end connects the tong handles. At the base of one tong handle the tip has been bent approximately 3/4" and the opposite handle has been hammered and flattened with a V shape cut into handle; when the base of the handles come together, it is as though this was planned or modified this way for an unknown specific purpose. Again it is difficult to determine age, as if the tong was at one time a flat bit tong broken and refitted into a more specific tool for a specfic purpose outside of a standard smithing tong.

2010.007.42

L-18 inches

2533 Ligget Road