meat hook (artifact #16)

After coming into possession of this tool, following the death of my father, I recognized details previously unknown to me by simply examining the tool.  Obviously it was custom made for my grandfather or, more likely, my dad by the local millwright, a man by the name of Minor Caudle who was also our blacksmith.  The quality of the tool speaks of his trademark.

The tool is made from round steel stock.  Looking at the end of the handle I could see a fracture and also a smooth curve.  At once I recognized three distinct features.  #1 the round stock is the diameter of a tine from a horse-drawn hay rake of my grandfather’s.  #2 the curve at the end of the handle is the radius of the full 360° circle, a spiral wrap that gave the tine a spring action and helped to avoid breakage when the tine was hung up on a rock or root.  #3 the tine snapped into two pieces and was not cut by the blacksmith.  It is this fracture that caused me to closely examine the one piece tool and recognized the further details mentioned.  This tine either broke from being hung up on an object or there was a flaw in the steel at that point.  Much stress had occurred, apparently causing the fracture.  As a result I have this tool and memories of farm life.  Little material was wasted or thrown away in those days.  I know nothing further of the hay rake but I cherish this meat hook as it refreshes my memory of life in the Ozarks.

Charles Doyle  3/24/2003