What is this?

[DR Buck]

A guy I work with found this thing in his grandfather's estate.   It was in with some gun and ammo related stuff.   There is an almost unreadable label on it that has the words   "Warning"   "Black Powder"  "cartridge" "combustion" and "unsafe" printed on it.   It's 21 inches long and 4 1/4 wide.   He took it to a friend that is an antique dealer and has "connections" with people that know things.   They all had no idea about what it is .

EDIT:   The black square that is hinged is made of wood and there is a metal cup fastened on to it.   One side has a leather pad on it, probably for banging on something.   The picture with the piece opened is at the max opening.   It does not open further.  The piece on the inside with the hole in the center is directly under the metal cup on the black piece of wood.

Questions he wants to know:

• What is it called?
• What is it used for?
• How is it used?
• How old is it?
• Where was it made or who made them?

[Ljohnsaw]

 

That is interesting - from the label, I'd put the age at less than 100 years old.  Kbeitz probably has 3 or 4 of them ;) :D

[tule peak timber]

Without trying to be funny, it looks like a "Saturday night special". Something rigged to to fire a cartridge for some purpose.  Rob

[Ljohnsaw]

Without trying to be funny, it looks like a "Saturday night special". Something rigged to to fire a cartridge for some purpose.  Rob

Ahhhh, you may be on to something!  Perhaps used in a slaughter house or to put down a large animal?  But don't see any blood on it...

[DMcCoy]

That is interesting - from the label, I'd put the age at less than 100 years old.  Kbeitz probably has 3 or 4 of them ;) :D

:D :D :D

Percussion nail driver?

[POSTON WIDEHEAD]

Jeff will find one of these in the bottom of a drawer next week.  :D

[Jeff]

It's a black powder goat castrator

[POSTON WIDEHEAD]

It's a black powder goat castrator

[Joe Hillmann]

It looks like an alarm system of some sort.  I would guess a primer goes in the hole and it is closed.  Then when it gets hit or pressed on hard enough the primer goes off.  Similar set ups are used as signal devices on tip ups for ice fishing.

I can't find a link to the exact item I am looking for but this should give you an idea.
http://www.gameandfishmag.com/fishing/fishing_icefishing-fishing_gf_aa016205a/

And another one
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c_Yjmx2xzIc

[Delawhere Jack]

Looks like it was designed to fire a blank cartridge. Does the little round bump on that hinged metal piece line up with the center of the hole, or on the edge? What's the diameter of the hole?

I'd guess that it was either a noisemaker for the shear fun of it, or meant for scaring off birds....... or goats.

[POSTON WIDEHEAD]

If its an alarm system....Jeff was close.  :D :D :D

[Joe Hillmann]

Do you have photos of the eye hook at the other end of the paddle?

[DR Buck]

Do you have photos of the eye hook at the other end of the paddle?

It's actually a nail.  Sort of looks like a drywall nail that has been added.

[rjwoelk]

I know I know!!!  You put a primer In  it then you have a guage as to how hard you paddle that naughty child. If it set the primer off you was to severe.   :D

[Jeff]

I'll bet if Loggah happens by, he'll know.

[DR Buck]

Over 600 views and still no "serious" response as to what it is?    say_what     I'm beginning to lose faith in the Forestry Forum.  smiley_cry     I really expected a reply with a full history on it within the first hour of posting.    ;D

[Warbird]

Is it a device for reloading or igniting old bullets?

[Jeff]

Over 600 views and still no "serious" response as to what it is?    say_what     I'm beginning to lose faith in the Forestry Forum.  smiley_cry     I really expected a reply with a full history on it within the first hour of posting.    ;D

Yeah, you probably would be better off asking at the laundromat

[Kbeitz]

That is interesting - from the label, I'd put the age at less than 100 years old.  Kbeitz probably has 3 or 4 of them ;) :D

I would like to say that I have 3-4 of them... But I never seen anything
quite like that before... Not even close...

[Dave Shepard]

It reminds me of a"slapstick", only with a lot more slap. It's obviously designed to be swung against something to get it to fire the blank, but it's padded so as to not damage whatever you are hitting. The only result would be a loud bang.

[Peter Drouin]

Start a race. ;D

[florida]

My guess would be an early version of a cattle prod. The bump would sting a bit and the noise would sure get them moving.

[Woodhauler]

Flash for a old camera??

[Den Socling]

I thought that cattle prod sounded like a good guess but then, you would have to reload after one crack. I've done a bunch of Googling and haven't found anything similar.


 

[Woodhauler]

The warning may be not to use black powder?

[Roxie]

i can read the first line on the label that says "this device was designed."  If I can read that much from here and from a picture, it doesn't seem it would take more than a magnifying glass to finish the answer to your question. 

[Woodhauler]

After looking at it again, I would say it was a thing to load powder into primers for rifle or shotgun shells, it shows no signs of blowing up.

[kensfarm]

Like woodhauler said.. old cartridge/primer reloader?  Hit the padded side w/ your hand. 

[loggah]

I really don't know what it is !!!!! but im pretty sure its not a reloader,i do have a bunch of antique reloaders and this dont fill the bill. It is some sort of noise maker maybe  for initiation purposes for college frat houses or something. There is a reason its a padded paddle  ??? ???

[DelawhereJoe]

It reminds me of a"slapstick", only with a lot more slap. It's obviously designed to be swung against something to get it to fire the blank, but it's padded so as to not damage whatever you are hitting. The only result would be a loud bang.

I have to agree with you, I consulted with a man who knows everything, then googled antique vaudeville slapsticks and found one very similar.

[DelawhereJoe]

http://www.dragonwings.net/Slapstick.htm

[Jeff]

I THINK YOU GOT IT!!  8)

[Andries]

Who knew?
They needed "Goat Spankers" way back then too.
some things just don't change . . .

[PC-Urban-Sawyer]

After all, why do you think they call it slapstick comedy?


Herb

[DR Buck]

 8)   8)   8) 

This is great news.  I'm going to print the catalog pages for my friend that owns the device in the original post photos.


I knew the FF would come through.  I just didn't expect  it to take this long. 

[Dave Shepard]

I gave you a hint on March 2. ;)

[DelawhereJoe]

I don't think many people that use this forum were even alive when they used them. I had to consult a man much older them me who just happens to know just about everything or knows someone that does.