This week’s collaboration with What is It? Blog brings us these items. Can you guess what they are? For clues as to how big they are (and for other items for guessin’), check out: What is it? Blog.
No prize this week – you’re playing for bragging rights only. Please post no URL, let others play!
Update 3/23/07: They’re not just any caltrops – they’re ninja caltrops! Congrats to Mordred #8 who got it right!
Tom Morgan
Caltrops. Or, uhh… predatory animals from a planet that exists in only two dimensions but has been recently hit by a 3 dimensional comet, thus exposing the native flora and fauna to the still unfamiliar realm of ‘up…’ Look at them, blindly reaching out toward an infinity that they never knew existed. Aww… Cute little 2-D sharks…
Aleki
These are for popping tires. No matter how they are dropped they always have a blade facing upwards. Cops use these when they need to blow the tires out of a moving car. You just drop a bunch of them on the road in front of a moving vehicle.
Ali
LOL! I thought of Caltrops as well. Maybe an artsy fartsy version on those weapons? Maybe we can throw a couple of those around to prevent people from walking on our lawns!
Bob Robinson
Its a killer whale for sure.
Now if I can only find my spectacles…
Mordred
Tetsubishi (or makibishi), caltrops used by ninjas against pursuers on foot (not car tires, sorry, although they would prove useful against that too 
Randall
These are two fine examples of quadraline spinaks, used in the casual salination of seawater in a process called ‘Pavelechion’s circumscribance’ after its inventor L. Membel Pavelechion. Although why the process works has never been explained satisfactorily to the Nobel commision, it is still used worldwide and other places.
intelnm
no these are for drywall.. you put them on the side so that you can put two together side by side without holding them while you screw them to the wall
Chris
They are used to trip horses up. If someone was being chased by a horse or whatever they would drop loads of these behind them, whichever way they fall they always have a point upwards, the horse stands on it is in great pain so trips or stops running.
Ian
I was going to post and say caltrops, but it seems everybody else got there first, so I reckon it’s a caltrophone – a nine foot tall percussion instrument in the shape of a caltrop.
jonno
OKAY, so who the hell stole my name and used my suggestion??! This is fraud, guilty parties shall be found and prosecuted accordingly. Now, with the legal proceedings out of the way, I shall take a second glance at the picture and hazard a guess ……. ah! no doubt about it its a banana on the left and definately tom selleck lying down on the right.
jonno
What do you mean? It is plain to see, it’s not two bananas. One is a banana…the other Tom Selleck lying down.
Seth
Indeed, they are tire tacks for popping car tires. They always drop with a point up.
Geekazoid
I’m with the others who say calthrops, the ancient Ninja weapon of fleeing choice. Either way you throw them on the ground, one pair of sharp tips will ensure a speedy getaway.
Rathnid Bevins
These are caltrops and there were very effectivly used by the Ninja anciently against the Samurai. At best the Samurai would be wearing easily penetrated sandals. They certainly could be used against tires these days so both trains of thought are correct concerning these.
Kent
I’ll take, what do police throw on the road to pop an auto’s tires and disable the vehicle for $400, Alex.
Magnor
I saw the picture and for the first time immediately knew what it was. Already been answered though, i play too much wow.
Mokuwai
I used to make these in school out of two staples twisted together and put them on peoples seats. Yup there’s many a sore butt thanks to me. Now I’d probably be expelled or something. (I only ever got one teacher)
Brings back great memories.
Luna zoloq
These are called caltrops. If one feels one’s life is in danger, one simply scatters these ingenious little creatures about the room. No matter how they are dropped, one pointy end is always facing up, ready to pierce the foot of a would-be attacker.
sandra
These are easily recognizible as mandrophlepes. They’re commonly used to extract copper from streams and riverbanks. With copper prices at an all time high, I need to git me some.
Mike C.
I think this is some sort of staple to hold two pieces of wood together
jonno
I find it really wierd that someone is filling in for me when im not here! does this mean i have a following?
jonno
WTF?
I am the REAL jonno.
sorry all, i don’t know why all these weirdos are using my name.
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