Possible Trigger Guard? - Need to Identify

[Pig Renter]

I found this piece of metal about 3" deep in the ground in West Texas (pics below). I couldn't help but think it resembled one of those old fancy trigger guards from a muzzleloader, but I'm pretty ignorant on historic firearms.

Its got a pretty heavy feel to it and is pretty smooth feeling. It is about 4 1/4" long, however the longer of the two prongs appears to be broken off so I'm not sure what shape it could have taken or how much is missing.

And, if not a piece to a muzzleloader, can anyone identify what it is or how old it might be?

Thanks,

https://1drv.ms/u/s!AsLahsF7mBW9hn1YY8ZpDAjDikw2
https://1drv.ms/u/s!AsLahsF7mBW9hnvmqCXpzYx_Fr2Y
https://1drv.ms/u/s!AsLahsF7mBW9hnmeUz2xPlCl_oWz

 

[Nativearizonan]

I think you pegged it. Possibly a trigger guard. Possibly something else. Whatever it is appears to have seen better days. Perhaps it has been bent as well as broken. The flat part on the left, in the picture, looks like it could have been broken and might have been mounted with a screw, but I can't really tell. More pictures from different angles and with a ruler or something to gauge size might help, or not.

Is the metal iron or brass. It's kind of hard to tell color in the photo.

Somebody here might have a better idea as to what it came off of.

 

[Zonie]

The links lead me nowhere.

 

[Pig Renter]

Are the links working for anybody else? I couldn't figure out how to post directly into message.

Here are some new links to try. They are linked to Dropbox instead. I hope they work.

Thanks
https://www.dropbox.com/s/88rthhf1zg0t56t/IMG_7694.JPG?dl=0
https://www.dropbox.com/s/iuqhr8rr3r00tuc/IMG_7695.JPG?dl=0
https://www.dropbox.com/s/5f7ronj66kwys4n/IMG_7713.JPG?dl=0
https://www.dropbox.com/s/9cbh1gj8iko34nb/IMG_7714.JPG?dl=0
https://www.dropbox.com/s/o4vxoe1rpyfamt6/IMG_7716.JPG?dl=0
https://www.dropbox.com/s/hurzzako0iadgyr/IMG_7719.JPG?dl=0

 

[Gene L]

I don't know what it is, but I don't think it's a trigger guard. The "bow" doesn't seem deep enough for a trigger, given the part where the screw seems to be broken off. Plus, the two prongs don't make sense. But who knows? I suspect we'll never know for sure.

 

[Elnathan]

I gonna say yes, it was a trigger guard, and probably looked much like this originally:
https://www.trackofthewolf.com/Categories/PartDetail.aspx/928/1/TG-DIMICK-B


Note that the square sections on the new one linked are casting sprues and would be cut of and filed smooth before the guard was installed.

 

[Zonie]

You took the words right out of my mouth.

The trigger shaped spur looks like something that one would hook their finger into to pull on to actuate something.

Based on one of the pictures, the long tang next to the shorter one looks like it was broken off so, it was even longer at one time.

 

[Black Hand]

Another vote for Not a Triggerguard...

 

[thomas]

I vote it is a Triggerguard!

 

[Nativearizonan]

I'm leaning towards a very bent up trigger guard. The flat piece on one end would have had to set flat agains a stock, which means it is bent quite a bit. The trigger guard itself would have been deeper, so must be bent in. The trigger shaped spur was normally found on quite a few rifles; Ohio rifles, Schutzens and other later half-stocks. I'm not sure how the two tangs on the other end would have looked, but I think they are also bent considerably, especially the longer one. There would have needed to be an attachment of some kind on the end of the longer one, as well.

Suppose the attachment spot was on the shorter of the two tangs, and the longer tang was actually once bent in a similar shape as the trigger shaped spur. If you look at this trigger guard, and imagine it being slightly different, but greatly bent, it seems possible:

https://www.trackofthewolf.com/Categories/PartDetail.aspx/946/1/TG-E-30-S

Compare that to this picture. The key to seeing a resemblance is in seeing that longest tang as being bent all the the way to where it resembles the other trigger shaped spur. You would also have to break off the front and rear of the TOW guard, as well as imagining no little upturned spur that makes the trigger guard look more oval on the TOW one.
https://www.dropbox.com/s/88rthhf1zg0t56t/IMG_7694.JPG?dl=0

 

[Nativearizonan]

One thing for sure, when you are talking about non-military muzzle loaders, there were a lot of gun parts made a lot of different ways during the various periods than there are copies of today.

 

[Griz44Mag]

I believe that is a tack hanger.
We had hangers with the same hook and top mounting hole in our tack room and barn when I was a kid growing up. It looks like the bottom hole and foot are broken off. We hung bridles and cinch straps on them.

 

[rich pierce]

I agree it was a hanger of some type, and it would explain the shine from wear.