it may be like the lady told you, for hordes.
possibly in the early days when teams of horses were used with wagons, logging, goods delivery and such,
the team driver may have driven it tether) in the dirt and the knob handle would be used to pull it out when they were leaving
NOW, why would they possibly use that type, they may have been using the other type that is a weight that resembles a half of a circle,
and the team driver may have left a few behind. or they may have been lost, this type could be put on a hook where the driver had quick
access to it when he got off the wagon.
"just a thought" .
