Help with a... Baseball bat???

[almostdone]

I am defiantly not a bat expert but I wonder if it's possibly a crude fungo bat? You can tell from the markings around the hole that the lathe it was turned on was probably not a machine that was designed for mass production.
Just a stab in the dark. When you hold it in one hand is it balanced so it is easily swung with only one hand? A regular bat is typically thicker toward the end to transfer power to the sweet spot.
Drew

[vintagesportscollector]

Dave - how long is the section between the knob and the double rings? Can you comfortably wrap both your hands around it there?

[daves_resale_shop]

So it definitely tapers down from top to bottom. It's roughly 31" from the top of the barrel to the top of one of the rings... It feels pretty well weighted, and can swing comfortably with both hands above the rings, but feels a little more natural with one hand below the rings and one above.

I appreciate the help guys

[almostdone]

Dave,
Any impressions on the barrel? Ball marks or anything else? Part of me thinks it might be an old rug beater especially if it holds and swings easily with one hand. I sure hope not. Would be really cool as a old bat of some type. Great piece for a 10 spot and couldn't have happened to a better guy on the boards.
Drew

[WWGjohn]

What is the it's weight and barrel diameter?

John

[daves_resale_shop]

Thanks for the kind words drew!

This thing is weighted well enough to be swung, but not so light that I could move it comfortably with one arm. The barrel is 2.25" across, but I don't have a scale to weigh it (will bring it to the office tomorrow to weigh it).

Any ideas as to how old this thing may be?

[gypsyking13]

Found this photo online. Looks like the second knob was a way to choke up on the bat while still being able to put your wrist on the knob. The author stated that Wright and Ditson manufactured the bat for Nap Lajoie. Turns out a company called Phoenix bats still makes them. I'm not sure how to help on dating the bat, but since the style never really caught on, it makes me think someone made it at home close to when Lajoie was playing. 1920 or early maybe? Just a guess though.

Here's the link to the blog article where I got the info: http://www.blinddogpix.com/bat/baseball.htm

[t206wagner]

Looks a lot like this one:

http://www.cooperstownbat.com/index....l-replica.html

Or as mentioned the Lajoie

http://www.cooperstownbat.com/index....l-replica.html