What the devil is this thing?

[ApacheCoTodd]

My wife dragged this home for me and I'm a bit stumped.
Best guess I'm making is based upon the deliberate graduation markings that it's a powder tester or burn rate tester of some sort.
There is an indexing-like keyway over what might be called the muzzle where a reaction wheel may have been but there's still the 27+inches behind the lockwork to guess at.

The numerals are Hindu. The long bar beneath the hammer is the "trigger" and the lock work operates as a standard flint-lock.

Any guesses?

 

[Ron James]

Perhaps for cannon. to lay the gun and to set it off?,

 

[Pete D.]

what?

My first quick look led me to say "Bangstick" - a weapon used underwater to kill sharks.
But then I saw that it was a flintlock.
Being Indian, I wonder if it could not have served the same purpose as a Howdah pistol....a bangstick used against animals trying to claw their way on to an elephant.
It was obviously used against something that the holder did not want to get close to.
Pete

 

[rcmodel]

It would help if someone who could read the writing on the segments could tell what they say?

I can't think of any reason a bang stick would need to be dissembled into small segments like that?

rc

 

[hso]

Let's dissect it logically.

Each piece of rod screws into the next, but they're not hollow through and through.

As the "barrel" is the short section to the right of the matchlock, it is awfully short and it is remarkably plain for the rest of the thing.

The opposite end is threaded, but in a different manner than the other sections implying it threaded into something else different than the other bits and "lighter". It shouldn't be a stock since that puts the trigger too far forward.

I wonder if it is some sort of travelers firearm staff, but then why make the "stock" of steel and the "barrel" so short?

Here's the Devangari (Hindi) numerals. You can identify the "4" the easiest.

 

[Sam Cade]

It would help if someone who could read the writing on the segments could tell what they say?

It is Devangari numerals sequential to 43.



The bit by the ports are numbered in the 30s. Strange.

 

[Elkins45]

Why would the trigger be so close to the muzzle and so far from what is presumably the end where it is held?

Does the trigger work by squeezing it toward the body or pulling it away (backward) from the muzzle? I'm trying to figure out the functionality of the long trigger bar and maybe use it as a clue to help me figure out the use of the whole gizmo. The graduations and the trigger location make me think it might be something you stick into an animal den or snake hole to discharge a load of shot.

 

[jerkface11]

Maybe you'd have better luck in firearms research?

 

[hso]

Excellent idea

 

[jerkface11]

Honestly it looks like that slip ring holds the trigger down. So that when it's pushed/pulled off the gun fires.

 

[ApacheCoTodd]

Honestly it looks like that slip ring holds the trigger down. So that when it's pushed/pulled off the gun fires.

The ring is probably just to keep the trigger from being overextended when not in use as when it is applied, the hammer can not be set.

 

[jerkface11]

Well then it's stranger than I thought.

 

[The Bushmaster]

You guys let me know when you figure it out. O K?

 

[anothernewb]

looks to me like a version of a pole cannon or a pike cannon.

 

[CWL]

Is the left end piece hollow? Could it fit over the barrel/ muzzle?

I'm trying to figure why it would be ported.

 

[Hanshi]

Looks like a powder tester for gauging the power of black powder.

 

[CWL]

Looks like a powder tester for gauging the power of black powder.

But can you explain how it worked? What benefit would it offer over simpler designs like this?

 

[ApacheCoTodd]

Is the left end piece hollow? Could it fit over the barrel/ muzzle?

I'm trying to figure why it would be ported.

All of the screw on pieces are potentially hollow as the small diamond shaped nubs (2 on the right ends) can be unthreaded.

I can't imagine why this configuration was made but removing them and then having the (exhaust?) ports at the extreme end is what made me think that the left side of this powder tester may be a burn rate gauge.

I'll put up a couple more detailed photos when I get back home.

I'm fairly certain that the keyway I described means classic powder tester at the lock end though I don't have the wheel mechanism - it's really that other end that gives me pause.

 

[ApacheCoTodd]

But can you explain how it worked? What benefit would it offer over simpler designs like this?

The point I'm generally making is that it seems clear that this is the type of tester one end is, though, with a removable degree wheel (alas, it did not come with the device), it's that other end and how it may be used which vexes me.

 

[CWL]

Oh, I agree. Everything to the left (based on your photos) is a very cool mystery.

Where did your wife find this btw? (I doubt that mine will ever discover anything half as interesting in the shoes and handbag stores where she shops!)

 

[Green_Giant]

Could it be some kind of signaling device? Maybe something rose up(??) the assembled shaft until it actuated the trigger mechanism to fire off the "report". Could the numbered bands give a readout of some kind? Maybe "Time / Something Elapsed Since Firing" if something rides up the rod after the report fires??

I have no idea and no expertise in this field, so total WAGs on my part. I will check back to see if anyone solves the mystery.

Tony

 

[Officers'Wife]

I have no idea but it looks like it would be just dandy for starting campfires.

 

[ApacheCoTodd]

Could it be some kind of signaling device? Maybe something rose up(??) the assembled shaft until it actuated the trigger mechanism to fire off the "report". Could the numbered bands give a readout of some kind? Maybe "Time / Something Elapsed Since Firing" if something rides up the rod after the report fires??

I have no idea and no expertise in this field, so total WAGs on my part. I will check back to see if anyone solves the mystery.

Tony

Now there's a clever perspective. Something is either supposed to thread to the left end of this or the device is supposed to be mounted by the threads onto another somethin'.

I had been assuming that the graduation marks were to determine the results of something - more interesting still if they are there for setting adjustments as in say a signal device.


Hmmm...

Or in another scenario - were something to be set using the grading and then slid along - as you say - to trip the trigger - a crude timer of some sort?

Armory self destruct? Ship scuttling? I guess simple fusing is easier but it's fun to guess at.

 

[ApacheCoTodd]

I have no idea but it looks like it would be just dandy for starting campfires.

Bar-B-Ques?

"Wait, I got a device just right for that...."

 

[Ron James]

Reason I suggested something to lay a cannon, I have seen a very long " Gunners Dirk " that was graduated such as that (From Italy ), In fact the term point blank comes from using such a devise If you didn't have your Zippo handy the little flintlock would be just the thing to light the fuse or powder train.