# Odd shaped hook - what's it for? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [June 24, 2017, 6:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/odd-shaped-hook-whats-it-for/789779 "2017-06-24T18:50:42Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![purplehorseshoe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/purplehorseshoe/32/2996_2.png) [@purplehorseshoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/purplehorseshoe)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2017, 6:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/odd-shaped-hook-whats-it-for/789779/1 "2017-06-24T18:50:42Z")
Such a specific shape to the “tail” must have a purpose. Is this for pegboards maybe? It’s about 1.5 inches tall (long?) and was found in a buncha random odds’n’ends so I have no idea if it’s from, say IKEA or what. [https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20170624/ba473eaf93dac147161fed1e99bfdafc.jpg](https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20170624/ba473eaf93dac147161fed1e99bfdafc.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![Trinopus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/2bfe46/32.png) [@Trinopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trinopus)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2017, 7:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/odd-shaped-hook-whats-it-for/789779/2 "2017-06-24T19:26:13Z")
If the kinked end had a point, I’d think it was a curtain-rod hook; the semi-circular curve goes over a curtain rod, and the point jabs into the curtain. Not sure, though, with the blunt-ended hook here. ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2017, 7:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/odd-shaped-hook-whats-it-for/789779/3 "2017-06-24T19:53:20Z")
It’s just a generic hook. You can hook the small end over a something (like a wire shelf) and it won’t come off each time you use it like a regular S-Hook will. ETA, scroll down to the pictures in the reviews to see them being used. [This amazon page](https://www.amazon.com/LJY-10-Pack-Polished-Metal-Hanging/dp/B01H8LEMRU/ref=pd_bxgy_79_2?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=B01H8LEMRU&pd_rd_r=YG8QMJD05MRDA5SHFZ8B&pd_rd_w=Rx5sY&pd_rd_wg=NGKQk&psc=1&refRID=YG8QMJD05MRDA5SHFZ8B) is the only place I could find them in use. ---
**Author:** ![RivkahChaya](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rivkahchaya/32/8919_2.png) [@RivkahChaya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RivkahChaya)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2017, 7:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/odd-shaped-hook-whats-it-for/789779/4 "2017-06-24T19:55:22Z")
> [@Trinopus](#): > > If the kinked end had a point, I’d think it was a curtain-rod hook; the semi-circular curve goes over a curtain rod, and the point jabs into the curtain. > > Not sure, though, with the blunt-ended hook here. Yup. Curtain. ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2017, 8:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/odd-shaped-hook-whats-it-for/789779/5 "2017-06-24T20:27:05Z")
All the curtain hooks I’ve seen have looked like [this](https://www.sg-s.co.uk/image/cache/data/Colour%20Images/curtain-hooks-530x265.jpg). I’m not understading how it would work if one end was sticking out. It would poke through the fabric. Even if it’s not sharp, it would look all pointy from the front and probably still wear a hole through the curtain. ---
**Author:** ![GusNSpot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gusnspot/32/436_2.png) [@GusNSpot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GusNSpot)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2017, 1:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/odd-shaped-hook-whats-it-for/789779/6 "2017-06-25T01:53:58Z")
Can be used to hang light things on thin sheet rock walls. Need only a small hole to insert. There are other shapes as well.