unknown item from pacific theatre.......

[butterfly]

This was recently posted on another forum (WA) and it intrigued me. I have been given permission by the person that posted this to add the images to bocn to see if anyone here can identify it. All I know about this is what was written in the original post which I have copied below;

I am totally guessing if this is the correct forum. This object was found in a cave on a Pacific battlefield. It is brass, with a stainless steel pierced tip. It looks like a primer is on the side, where the swing-arm can hit it. No markings that I can find.

anyone any ideas? Kev

 

[beihan62]

Hi Kev,Just guessing here,when the primer is struck would the pointed stainless spike/point in the centre be driven forwards by the exploding primer into something,perhaps a larger primer but it seems a bit too pointed for that,and a bit Heath Robinson too,or....could it be a remote detonator for exploding buried munitions used as booby traps,other than that I am baffled by it,an interesting item,
Cheers,
Don,

 

[toadboy65]

I don't think the stainless part moves. It has little holes in it which I think let the gas escape.
T

 

[Slick]

Maybe some part of a plotting board. That guess would require the primer "option" be ignored. They're quite the gizmos, tho' never saw one that utilized a CAD.