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The History of Barbed Wire (2016)

thecorrespondent.com

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Re: The History of Barbed Wire (2016)

#2
Related:

The tangled history of barbed wire - https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=10284497 - Sept 2015 (4 comments)

The history of barbed wire - https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=9252709 - March 2015 (27 comments)

Also related:

Barbed wire fences were an early DIY telephone network - https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=30231837 - Feb 2022 (63 comments)

Old-time ranchers used barbed-wire fences as phone network - https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=19506811 - March 2019 (1 comment)

Barbed Wire Telephone Lines Brought Isolated Homesteaders Together - https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=15951230 - Dec 2017 (22 comments)

Ethernet over barbed wire - https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=15910263 - Dec 2017 (53 comments)

Re: The History of Barbed Wire (2016)

#3
I have an old barbed wire fence on back of my property. The previous owners put it up in the early 80's and they salvaged the wire. The wire has to be like from the 40's or earlier (it's very dry here). They don't make a barbed wire like this anymore, I've looked. The barbs are really different and it's more primitive looking.

It's just a small section of fence and doesn't actually connect to anything, but I don't have the heart to take it down. The next guy might want to see it in 30+ years and I think it will last that long.

One day I'm going to research it and see if I can figure out how old it is.

Re: The History of Barbed Wire (2016)

#4
post #3

I have an old barbed wire fence on back of my property. The previous owners put it up in the early 80's and they salvaged the wire. The wire has to be like from the 40's or earlier (it's very dry here). They don't make a barbed wire like this anymore, I've looked. The barbs are really different and it's more primitive looking. It's just a small section of fence and doesn't actually connect to anything, but I don't ha…

You should take some detailed photos soon just in case.

Re: The History of Barbed Wire (2016)

#7
post #6
post #5

Strange that, apparently, at no point did barbed wire ever feature actual barbs. That's probably for the best.

I'm not parsing this. Are the pointy pieces of wire every six inches or so not barbs?

A barb typically extends off a "pointy piece" to prevent it from being removed easily without further injury. For example, some fishhooks and arrowheads. The fences aren't designed to poke and then stick in the flesh.

Re: The History of Barbed Wire (2016)

#8
post #3

I have an old barbed wire fence on back of my property. The previous owners put it up in the early 80's and they salvaged the wire. The wire has to be like from the 40's or earlier (it's very dry here). They don't make a barbed wire like this anymore, I've looked. The barbs are really different and it's more primitive looking. It's just a small section of fence and doesn't actually connect to anything, but I don't ha…

There are lots of different types of barbed wire and people who collect them. You should look around, it may be more valuable than you think.

Re: The History of Barbed Wire (2016)

#9
post #6

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'm not parsing this. Are the pointy pieces of wire every six inches or so not barbs?

A barb typically extends off a "pointy piece" to prevent it from being removed easily without further injury. For example, some fishhooks and arrowheads. The fences aren't designed to poke and then stick in the flesh.

Obviously you wouldn't want that for livestock, but this razor wire fits your description:

https://shop10303.ldiiaceh.org/category?name=cbt%2060%20razo...