Another what is it tool

Part of cleaning out my grandfather's tool shed. At first I thought it was a pick-axe where someone just cut off the handle, but not sure. The hole in the head for the handle is pretty small - the handle that you see is about the largest diameter that you could have. I would think that it would easily break if you had a regular length handle like in a regular pick. Head is very heavy, which makes it pretty unbalanced to use with the short handle. Very old, probably made by a blacksmith. Just a short handled pick, or is there a special purpose for this?
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I agree with hd, for following a small vein of ore. Blacksmiths were not all good designers, it maybe should of had a bigger hole for the handle, but it probably worked. I bought a short handled mattock for digging under the logs when we jacked up our 1930 log cabin.
 
My guess is mining. I would say that thing was beat out by a blacksmith before arc welding was invented so I doubt chipping hammer.
 
I bought this miner's pick years ago. After seeing yours, I had to go look and see if mine was still in the shop.LOL
I have been in gold mines here in our county, and you would not want something bigger than this. The handle is very small for the weight of the head.
Richard in NW SC
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Dan, can you imagine working in a small place with that for hours at a time. Makes my back hurt just thinking about it.
Richard
 
It is so unbalanced, it is difficult to strike a good lick with it. But I guess that we've got proof that at least two people thought they were a good idea!
 
The correct name is prospectors pick. The miner's pick or railroad pick has an oval eye and usually a pointed end and a flattened point on the opposite end and usually about 1 1/4 inch wide. It is too big for a welder's chip hammer. I use a masonry hammer for a chip hammer but I also have several chip hammers.
 
I have a couple of them that came with a old grist mill I have , They are for cleaning and chipping the groves on the mill stones.
 
They might could be used for that, but millstone sharpeners are flat on the ends.
I am certainly not going to use a miner's pick when I sharpen the stones on my Williams Mill.
Millstone sharpening tools are much lighter in weight.
Richard
 

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