anyone know what this may be for

[cimo]

been moving this from one locker to another these past few years &
still haven't found a use for it yet. anyone know its function? is it even nautical?

 

[oldsaltoz]

Belt buckle?

 

[sarabande]

fuel/water filler cap key ?

 

[Rigger Mortice]

A boom brake or a climbing descender (used when going up the mast)?

 

[DanTribe]

An amulet for followers of the cult of the Monkey King?

 

[nigelmercier]

Shackle key, or a very small anchor.

 

[prv]

My guess is that it's for attaching several turns of line to the end of a strap, so as to lash the strap down, perhaps over an upturned dinghy. One end of the line is passed through the round hole, with a knot in the end, and two other turns are hooked over the arms before tying off. The strap of course is sewn through the slot.

The short lanyard in the picture is irrelevant to this use and has been added later. If the slotted end fits your water or fuel tank cap, then it may be being carried as a key, though it's too elaborate to have been made for that purpose.

All just a guess though.

Pete

 

[Boo2]

My guess is that it's for attaching several turns of line to the end of a strap, so as to lash the strap down, perhaps over an upturned dinghy. One end of the line is passed through the round hole, with a knot in the end, and two other turns are hooked over the arms before tying off. The strap of course is sewn through the slot.

I have something similar connecting the webbing back-straps that take the place of the lifelines in the cockpit area of my boat. See pic below,

Boo2

 

[cimo]

Belt buckle?

fuel/water filler cap key ?

Shackle key, or a very small anchor.

I should have included some scale, the slot measures 60mm on the inside. uniform thickness is 7mm. both sides are the same. no markings of any kind. it weighs just over 200g. (It would make an interesting belt buckle).

A boom brake or a climbing descender (used when going up the mast)?

didn't consider that. a guess or have you come across something similiar previous?

An amulet for followers of the cult of the Monkey King?

very interesting. how much should I insure it for?

My guess is that it's for attaching several turns of line to the end of a strap, so as to lash the strap down, perhaps over an upturned dinghy. One end of the line is passed through the round hole, with a knot in the end, and two other turns are hooked over the arms before tying off. The strap of course is sewn through the slot.

The short lanyard in the picture is irrelevant to this use and has been added later.

I have something similar connecting the webbing back-straps that take the place of the lifelines in the cockpit area of my boat. See pic below,

I think you're both on the right track. The slot would take a 60mm wide strap. the edges all round are nicely bevelled to take a line (the hooks would accomodate a 15mm line, although 7mm is a very small bend radius). Not a small boat item I reckon. Could it be part of a ships rigging?

Thanks for input. keep them coming.

 

[Rigger Mortice]

didn't consider that. a guess or have you come across something similiar previous?

An educated guess at best. It's not too dissimilar to this http://www.aliexpress.com/store/pro...pel-devices-Eight-Rings/702512_729095704.html.

But it is difficult to tell from your photo what it is made from. If it is steel or aluminium it may be a descender. If it is brass or bronze it would be less likely. It may even be homemade. Well radiused edges are exactly what you would expect on a descender.

 

[Poignard]

fuel/water filler cap key ?

Fuel/water filler cap key plus bottle opener.

 

[prv]

An educated guess at best. It's not too dissimilar to this http://www.aliexpress.com/store/pro...pel-devices-Eight-Rings/702512_729095704.html.

I did have similar thoughts, but couldn't explain why it would have the slot-shaped hole at the top. Hence my strap-lashing-end suggestion.

Another possibility, I suppose, is half of a buckle from a 1960s safety harness. I can imagine the other part having a cunningly shaped slot or hole which this one passes through and then lies flat without coming back. I have my great-aunt's old harness with a great big bronze buckle that works in a similar way, though it's not quite the same as this one.

But it is difficult to tell from your photo what it is made from.

Looks very much like bronze or gunmetal to me, classic old yacht stuff.

Pete

 

[Rigger Mortice]

Looks very much like bronze or gunmetal to me, classic old yacht stuff.

You may well be right. It looks as if there is a bit of verdigris near the round hole.

 

[William_H]

I think the long slot is the critical part. If this is long enough to take typical webbing ie 2 inches then it would be an end fitting for webbing as in the photo. If it is too small for webbing then any of the other suggestions. The lanyard on it might suggest some sort of a key. good luck olewill

 

[cimo]

thanks for the interest,

By the power of google, it would appear I could also have a tow rope quick connect thingamebob?

http://www.clarioncycles.net/index_...ead174+Kwik-Connect153+Tow+Rope+Connector.htm

(should I let the Monkey King folks know?)