Dug up with horseshoes and blacksmith tools, Whatzit?

[Pete4AU]

Found this in an area that must have been a blacksmith shop. Dug it out along with these 3 different types of tongs, 44 horseshoes and assorted pieces of metal.
This little fella is 4 1/2" in diameter, 1 3/4" from ground to lip and weighs in at a hefty 29 oz. WHATZIT? Perhaps it was the smithy's ashtray! Nah.
Most of the rust was sandblasted off the tongs.

Thanks for your input

Pete

[attachment 258056 Captured2013-2-2500001.JPG][attachment 258057 Captured2013-2-2500002.JPG][attachment 258058 Captured2013-2-2500000.JPG][attachment 258059 Captured2012-11-1200006.JPG][attachment 258060 Captured2012-11-1200008.JPG][attachment 258062 Captured2012-11-1200007.JPG]

 

[scampman_73]

Looks like a bowl used for melting lead to make bullets. Thats my guess

 

[SpiritRelic]

Smelting pot.Holly cow you got some nice relics there Pete.Blacksmith stuff is so cool.I say smelting pot.Scampman may be right on target!

 

[1859large]

nice stuff.

I agree, for melting a small amount of something.

 

[LittleJohn]

Looks like a piece for shaping and sizing horseshoes...

 

[craigV3]

I was a blacksmith for years before I changed occupations and got into law enforcement. You have a smelting pot, fire tongs, and a bullet mold. I'm not too familiar with the bullet mold and smelting pot, but the tongs are used to hold hot steel when forging stock into ornamental items or shoes. Sweet finds!!

 

[craigV3]

Looking at your pictures, the piece of material at the top of the bullet mold is prob lead which was left on the mold from its last use. If that lead is removed, there will be a funnel shaped entrance at the top of the mold, where the lead is poured in to.