What are they?

[GunClick Rick]

Friend that owns an antique store gave these to me today,i did make a doantion for the cuase though,We are thinking
spacers for blanket weaving? They had Tribal sticks on them on a tag.Are these the ones that push up the wool in the loom so they can get the smaller threaders through easier? One has a plug in it that comes out or it's just where a knothole is...

[Forty Rod]

I think you're right and I think they are called shuttles...but I've been wrong before.  Not often, mind you, but it has happened.

[Bugscuffle]

Yep, those are shuttles and they are used in rug and heavy cloth weaving top seperate the warp (the vertical threads on the loom) from each other so that the weft, or woof (the horizontal threads on the loom) can be set into the weave. The way in which the weft is woven into the warp, every strand, every other strand, every sixth strand, etc. determines what kind of cloth you are making, denim, flat weave, etc. After the weft is placed into the weave the shuttle is then pulled down to set the weft thread tight into the weave and VOILA! you have cloth!

[GunClick Rick]

Wy you wascily wabbit Didn't know you was a weaver~

Must be a knothole in that top one.

[Blair]

Yes, I would agree, they look like they should a weaving shuttle of some sort.
However, a weavers shuttle should have some means of being able to carry a thread or yarn from right to left or left to right. I don't see how this thread or yarn might be carried by the shuttles posted within these pictures.
Is there something I am missing within the photos?

Not saying or suggesting anybody in wrong or incorrect... simply a question on my part?

[GunClick Rick]

Exactly,i was thinking the same thing,but also thought they would be spacers for the ones that caried the material.Seems like i saw something like that and the ones with yarn or whatever were tossed through.I thought that was what the knothole was for,but after taking it out,it just a knothole,to much o f natural shape to it.

[Bugscuffle]

Blair - I believe that the thread is wound on a "needle", much like a "seine needle" that is used to repair fish nets. The shuttles that are shown only hold the threads apart so that the needle can pass back and forth through then in the right pattern. then the shuttle is pressed down on the newly laid thread and a comb like device is used to even everything up. It's pretty easy really. I had the ten year old girl from down the block explain it to me.