Extra large steel spike used for what?

[D-HU]

Anybody know what this huge steel spike would have been used for? I picked it up at an antique/flea market store along with a couple of axes. It's over 32" long, the head is 2-3/8" in diameter, and the shaft just below the head is 1-5/8" in diameter. It had a tag on it that said "chain set", but the guy selling it didn't know what it would have been used for. I'm a sucker for large metal objects, so I bought it. Maybe it was used for logging (I'm in the Pacific Northwest)? It's definitely a serious anchoring tool.

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[tt350z]

Aligning metal sheets or parts with multiple holes.

For example, pipelines connected by bolts on the flange. Stick that sucker through the flange holes and move it around to get the other bolts in.

 

[AA/FC]

I call that a "drift pin". As mentioned stick it through 2 or more holes, to align said holes together.

 

[kctyphoon]

if i had to guess i would say that might be something an iron worker might use to help erect structures and buildings.. looks alot like some handles on their adjustable wrenches..

 

[larry_g]

In this country that could also be a marlin spike, http://www.numismalink.com/drew.ency.34.86.html used in the logging industry to splice or put loops in steel cable. Looking at the axes and things about in the picture its a good guess.

lg
no neat sig line

 

[jask]

It is called a bull pin.

 

[Finky198]

Structural steel tools look at Kleins website
There great when aligning plates, beams, crossmember that are to be riveted on structural steel. They also come in handy during frame repairs when reinstalling previously riveted Crossmember

From what I remember splicing Fid's tend to be longer then that for the diameter that the op has

 

[D-HU]

I'm thinking you may be right, larry_g. After looking at pics on Google and looking at the Klein catalogs, this looks like a Marlin spike. I didn't see any bull pins this long, and the constant taper/head shape definitely looks like some of the Marlin spike pics I saw. And there is reference to them being this long and longer. Below are pics of the tip and head. The head diameter is actually smaller than I originally stated, just under 2 inches. Thanks for the help on this, guys!

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[sberry]

It isn't a bull pin.

 

[Hephaestus29]

A tent stake for giant tents/large gatherings.

 

[gungatim]

A tent stake for giant tents/large gatherings.

that's my guess. my buddy and I rentout party tents for extra cash (amazing side business if you've got the time). we have lots of those spikes. some tapered some just round stock.

btw, best use i've found for the HF ring roller is straightening out bent tent spikes!

 

[Dozerhand]

Some very old tractors and bulldozers used a bar that looks a lot like that start them. You stuck it in angled holes in the flywheel and beared down.