Dating square nails

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After an enjoyable day working the front lawn at Montpelier on the first day, day two at Montpelier started out with a downpour. It rained hard and we spent several hours in the archaeology lab hearing Dr. Reeves discuss metal detecting techniques woodland grids as well as a fascinating yes, really! They serve as indicators about human activity and age, and there is no shortage! The rain subsided and we gathered up our gear for a venture onto Chicken Mountain. Only 4x4s would make it to the hunt spot my car had to sit this one out and a 4-Wheeler took us to the top of the mountain.

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Most of us are familiar with the old square nails used centuries ago. What many of us are unaware of, however, is that those old nails were actually superior in design to modern wire nails. They have several times the holding power, and are less likely to cause wood to split. And perhaps even less well known is the fact that square nails are still manufactured today. They are even available in bulk quantities. Top: Hand forged 17th century iron nails and spike in the roof system of the Old Hawkins house, Derby, Connecticut.

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This article series describes antique and modern cut nails focusing on tree nails, wrought nails, and cut nails used in wood frame construction or interior finishing or carpentry work. It includes useful dates for the manufacture of different nail types.

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Antique nail?

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