What is it? Set 419

I think 2428 is a hash pipe made into a belt buckle.

Paul K. Dickman

That's pretty funny, it does look like a belt buckle, you might have nailed it.

I agree. I didn't notice the small hole in the end of the leg of the T. Adding a screen into the "bowl" would be all that was needed for a hash pipe. Good call. Art

"Rob H." wrote

shoe.. They are that shape and this probably could have been used in this fashion. But most of the iron shoes I have seen are much simpler and had just a spring across the two arms. But this does look like it has a very similar action. Judging by the age, style, etc., it would have been a high end model of an iron shoe if it was in fact an iron shoe. Perhaps it was an original model and they came out with the cheaper version later with just a spring across the two arms. These were quite common a hundred years ago and the cheap version were sold up to about 30 - 40 years ago. I remember seeing them in gyms as a kid.

Here is an old ad for one.

They were called an iron shoe because they resemble a horse shoe. I tried to find more info on them but this is an old item and they are just not out there any more. I did find a few folks who remember them and wanted to find them. Old ones are prized by collectors of strong man memorabilia.

Thanks, I think that iron shoe is correct, this will be my answer until I see evidence to the contrary.