mikegunn
Well-Known Member
It appears that there may be a hole in the beak that is perpendicular to its surface. Another photograph depicting an end view may provide more useful information.
Mike
Mike










"Er Walt. Don't call us; we'll call you."If one placed a wire around an object & then passed the 2 ends through the hole. It would then be passed around the stem to secure it. A couple of twists would get the ends twisted. Then by levering against the heel the wires can be tensioned. Then rotate the tool to twist the wires some more . Then unwind from the stem & pull them back through the hole.
Alternatively it is a locking lever of some sort & the end hooks under something & the handle levers down to tighten it.
If you look at the end of the fitting that looks manufactured and original so it hasn't been bent - but the inside looks as if it has been modified/cut away. The end fitting looks very like the end fitting for a whisker pole or similar so I guess it has been cut down and adapted from that.the hook end has clearly been bent open. I'm guessing there is a recess in the end of the shaft that would line up with the hole and cutout on the claw.