Whats it 4/18/13

[amertrac]

you all know what it is but do you know what it was originally made for  clue  military ww1

[geneg]

I think they were used to identify the net laundry bags in the Navy.

[geneg]

Second thought after my posting,  my Grandfather called them horse blanket pins. 

[Papaw]

My first thought was a hand grenade pin, but probably not.
Pins for clothing have been around since the 14th century. The modern safety pin was invented by Walter Hunt before 1869.
http://inventors.about.com/od/hstartinventors/a/safety_pin.htm

[amertrac]

Second thought after my posting,  my Grandfather called them horse blanket pins.

correct they kept the blankets on the horse/mule while they were not working the pin would hold the blanket under the horses neck so they could lay down and not lose the blanket

[lbgradwell]

I was gonna guess they held the diapers on Paul Bunyan's baby...

[amecks]

I bet the horse wasn't too crazy about getting stuck with that huge pin?!!!!!

[Bill Houghton]

I bet the horse wasn't too crazy about getting stuck with that huge pin?!!!!!

I'm sure a talented groom (or whatever the proper term was for the guy who took care of the horses) was able to stick the pin through the blanket without sticking it through the horse, just like generations of parents learned how to stick the smaller safety pin through the diaper without sticking the baby.  Certainly I did (diaper/baby, not blanket/horse).

[OilyRascal]

I have one like it I use to hold my striker on my side when metal working.  Just snap it on a belt loop.

[Branson]

When I was a kid, we got one of these with a number on it that matched the number on the locker for our clothes at the local swimming pool.  Looks to me like these mega safety pins had a lot of uses.

[1930]

When I was a kid, we got one of these with a number on it that matched the number on the locker for our clothes at the local swimming pool.  Looks to me like these mega safety pins had a lot of uses.

Me too

[Papaw]

Me three on the pin for the clothes basket at the swimming pool.

[johnsironsanctuary]

I'm wearing one as I write this.

[amertrac]

I'm wearing one as I write this.

A key chain on your belt

[Bill Houghton]

I'm wearing one as I write this.

A key chain on your belt

I hope it's that and not a pin on a really big diaper!