Is this a hardy? or something else?

[skipskip]

stem is  1 1/8

fat part is 2 1/2

overall about 7 inches tall

but a hardy hole is square, right?

AUG 544 by Skip Albright, on Flickr

[mikeswrenches]

Skip,  while you are correct that the hardy hole is square, there is no reason that this couldn't be used in one.  The orientation of the working surface doesn't matter since it is symmetrical.  It would certainly be easier to make with a round shank, no need to forge a square one.

Mike

[Chillylulu]

Tinsmiths, silversmiths, etc. all have a whole group of "stakes," including mushroom stakes.

I have dozens of stakes, if you want metal to be a certain shape you pick a stake that is the form of ehstever it is you are making. Then you beat, anneal, and beat some more. In a bit you have the fotm you wanted.

Chilly

[Aunt Phil]

Sorry, I think it's a DumDum for the top of a conical anvil.

Tinknockers stakes tend to be tall and have a fairly sharp taper to the enf that indexes to the bench plate.

Chili, you best lock your stakes up, they are bringing 100 bucks a stake around here.