Old Iron Hand-shaped (Presumed) Branding Iron whitework it is super smooth and

it is super smooth and almost seems petrified

with scattered staining as evident

) The button at the center is also loose--it works fine

It is indeed the very little things that often make me the happiest

like me (who might also use it just for drawing angles and straight lines)

Old Iron Hand-shaped (Presumed) Branding Iron whitework it is super smooth andI can't figure out anything this could be other than a branding iron; there are gaps at either side where the hand meets the handle that make it seem unlikely that it would work as a mold or cutter of some sort. Assuming the former, I'd guess that the arm once fit inside some sort of extension, so that when hot it would not burn one's hand when using. It appears to me that it was hand forged, and is quite old (and heavy, weighing almost 2 pounds) and