Pitchfork, circa 1870

Forks worked as extensions of farmers' arms, allowing them to skewer, lift, and move larger quantities of grain, straw or hay than they could do with just their hands. This fork started as a square wooden piece of ash or hickory. Riving (or separating) one end and bending the tines (or points) created two- and three-tine forks that farmers used to move bundles of grain or hay cut from stacks.