Today's collaboration with What is it? blog brings us this strange looking tool - can you guess what it is? More clues and another photo at What is it? blog.
Place your guess in the comment section, but please post no URLs - let others play! No prize this week, you're playing for bragging rights only.
Technically, no one got it right, but there are a couple of good guesses (booby trap, trip wire gun) and one really close one (gopher trap). Here's the answer:
Anti-rodent device or mouse killer pistol, invented in 1862. To operate: Pull back the hammer and insert the safety, place a percussion cap on the nipple, load 10 grains of black powder into the barrel along with some paper wadding, put some peanut butter on the bottom of the trigger, place the device in a good location, set the sear, and finally, remove the safety.
Newest 5 Comments
Ooh, very close guess, FarSighted! The answer is actually a rat pistol, circa 1862.
Abusive comment hidden.
(Show it anyway.)
This is a little wood plane that was worn on the end of a watch fob. I have a book that describes this very tool, but I am moving and it's buried. If memory serves, it was meant to shave tiny bits of wood from instuments back in the day. Norm Abram mentions it in his book "Measure twice, cut once".
Abusive comment hidden.
(Show it anyway.)
Thats a percussion fired gopher trap. The forward facing paddle must be pushed upwards to trip the trigger. Place over a gopher mound.
Abusive comment hidden.
(Show it anyway.)
Looks like my grandpa's button maker.
Abusive comment hidden.
(Show it anyway.)
It's a vintage nose, nipple or tongue piercing device.
Abusive comment hidden.
(Show it anyway.)