What is this???

[GaryM]

I found it at an old civil war camp about 1.5' deep.

 

[John in Florida]

n/t

 

[Tioga]

but it looks like it's been jury-rigged to work after it broke.

There was a long wooden handle that the metal vertical piece on the one you found would have attached in the middle to. With a man on each end of the handle, they would place the carrier on top of one end of a felled tree. When they lifted, the carrier would close and grip the tree, allowing them to drag it.

Normally, that contraption in the center of the carrier wouldn't be there. That's why I think it was broken and then "fixed". It looks like whoever did the repair left just enough room to grab smaller trees or logs.

Here's a link to a picture of a modern 2-man timber carrier. You'll better understand what I mean once you see it.

http://www.northerntool.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/NTELargeImageView?rfno=200317109&storeId=6970

- Tioga