Does anyone know what this is?

[lara4228]

Moring Everyone!

I am not versed in this area of interest and I have a customer who has this item and neither one of us know what it is.  I am hoping you guys and gals here may know? 

It is old, likely from the 1930s or earlier.  Very long wooden handle with a very short iron point at the end.  We both suspect it may have been used to poke and move logs along the water while in transportation.

The tip is about  2.5-4 inches long and the handle is about 10+ feet long.

what are your thoughts?

Thank you!

Lara

[lara4228]

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[Old Greenhorn]

Sounds like a pike pole to me but a photo would really help.
edit, ah ok, see it now. Yeah, possibly an early pike pole.

[beenthere]

Welcome to the Forestry Forum.

Pike pole would be my guess too. But numerous uses for a pike pole could be imagined. Moving ice blocks, moving floating logs, cattle prod,  etc.

[Magicman]

Also pike poles were used to raise utility poles.  In the early-mid 1960's, the telephone line trucks still carried pike poles.

[lara4228]

thank you everyone for your input!

My consignor did tell me he used it to help erect some beams in the shop he built  but he never knew exactly the purpose of the pole itself!

I appreciate your knowledge!!

[Ron Scott]

Yes, a vintage pike pole.
A pike pole is a versatile tool used in various fields, including firefighting, logging, construction, boating, and rescue operations. It consists of a long pole—typically made of wood, aluminum, or fiberglass—with a metal hook or spike at the end.

Common Uses:
Firefighting: Used to pull down walls and ceilings to expose hidden fires, ventilate structures, and remove debris.

Logging: Helps maneuver floating logs in rivers and construct log rafts.

Construction: Assists in lifting timber-framed structures, such as barns and utility poles.

Boating & Rescue: Used to grab objects or people in high waters.

Power Line Maintenance: Linemen use pike poles to stand up utility poles.

[SwampDonkey]

My grandfather had one for years in his canoes for poling up shallow rivers. He made it out of a piece of spruce. The end had a metal cup around the wood and the pike dead centre. That might even be here in the barn with a canoe. I have an old lithograph (copy) by George M. Grant called 'Poling up and Paddling Down'. This was some place on the Tobique River in NB. Shows them poling in one scene and paddling in another. Common things back in the day for fishing or hunting sports who were artistic to draw or paint scenes that seemed like wilderness in the day. Mom's uncle had to pull up the river one time in early June. There was a forest fire. By the time he and others got up there (the head waters of the river) there had been a late spring snow that put out the fire. Probably in the 1920's. Soon a fire camp and a tower were set up on Mnt Carleton to fire watch. It was discontinued in the 60's. Was all done by plain by then. It's a provincial park now, and that whole area had burnt. Lots of short lived trees grew back, pioneer tree species. Aspen, fir, white birch. pin cherry.

1882 George M. Grant publication with many scenes across Canada including the Tobique River, the one above is shown in there. Page 370.

https://archive.org/details/picturesquecanad02gran_0

A blog showing poles and poling, some images from the book including that mentioned.

https://paddlemaking.blogspot.com/2016/03/historic-paddle-illustrations.html