Copper ship's nails

[Christoph1945]

Hi Doc,
             I already know that the items in the pic are copper ship's nails; the question is..................." Can one work out how old they are? "

[hotmill]

Hi Doc,
             I already know that the items in the pic are copper ship's nails; the question is..................." Can one work out how old they are? "

Probably 18th/19th century as they started using rivets to join metal round about mid 19th Century. The large one is a keel pin, a series of these would be used to join the keel to the underneath of the hull.

[Richie sixpence]

Nice finds Chris 

[Christoph1945]

               Thanks for that information Will; I was puzzled by the large copper pin. The other little critters keep turning up and I suppose that having been over a hundred civilian shipwrecks within five miles of my finds, I shouldn't be surprised that they keep washing up onto the beach.

               Interestingly, there has also been a Roman shipwreck recorded in the same area             ( picked up on sonar ) .  After a little bit of research, I discovered that the Vikings used copper nails and roves in their ship building; as do some modern boat builders. I think that you are probably spot on with the 18th century but I was hoping that one or two could have been Viking.

[hotmill]

               Thanks for that information Will; I was puzzled by the large copper pin. The other little critters keep turning up and I suppose that having been over a hundred civilian shipwrecks within five miles of my finds, I shouldn't be surprised that they keep washing up onto the beach.

               Interestingly, there has also been a Roman shipwreck recorded in the same area             ( picked up on sonar ) .  After a little bit of research, I discovered that the Vikings used copper nails and roves in their ship building; as do some modern boat builders. I think that you are probably spot on with the 18th century but I was hoping that one or two could have been Viking.

The top left nail next to the keel pin is probably the oldest. Until the mass production of nails started they were made by blacksmiths, imagine hammering hundreds of thousands of the things, nightmare!

[hotmill]

               Thanks for that information Will; I was puzzled by the large copper pin. The other little critters keep turning up and I suppose that having been over a hundred civilian shipwrecks within five miles of my finds, I shouldn't be surprised that they keep washing up onto the beach.

               Interestingly, there has also been a Roman shipwreck recorded in the same area             ( picked up on sonar ) .  After a little bit of research, I discovered that the Vikings used copper nails and roves in their ship building; as do some modern boat builders. I think that you are probably spot on with the 18th century but I was hoping that one or two could have been Viking.

Keel pins from identifiable wrecks are quite collectible, I always used to keep an eye out for them when I was wreck diving. I remember finding one from the 'Norman Court' which was a sister ship to the 'Cutty Sark' Someone bought that off me for £150 !!!!! Helped that I had actually picked it up form the sea bed next to the wreck so could guarantee it was genuine.

[congerman]

Interesting items well found