Photos provided by Andy Mason, UK, digitally processed and grouped by Jock Dempsey.
This is a cast stake. The evidence is blow holes on the back side (top when casting) and a parting line fin down the bottom of the arms. However, it appears from some of the details (evidence of forge weld seams, uneven chamfers, uneven swell at the end of the taper.) that a forged stake was used as the pattern.