MYSTERY OBJECT FOR COMMENT
 

I AM IN THE PROCESS OF BUYING THIS FROM A DEALER WHO BOUGHT THIS AS A CHINESE ANTIQUE,THE MYTHICAL CREATURE IS "MAKARA", BUT ACTUALLY ITS INDIAN FROM JODHPUR ,RAJASTHAN STATE, INDIA.THE MAKERS NAME IS INSCRIBED ON IT WHICH HAS BEEN TRANSLATED BY A FRIEND FROM THE MARWARI SCRIPT[SPOKEN IN RAJASTHAN],
THE INSCRIPTION SAYS-KARIGAR[MAKER] VEERMAL[NAME] REVAS[RESIDENT]JODHPUR[CITY] JAT[CASTE] SUTHAR[CARPENTER]
HAS ANY ONE SEEN ANYTHING LIKE THIS ??
A TOOL FOR DISPENSING MUSKET BALL??WILL ONLY BUY IF ITS RELATED TO WEAPONS ,COMMENTS WELCOME
REGARDS RAJESH

It is a superb item... I think it is a pistol with two triggers ...and you must grab this it is amazing... though I have never seen one like it..As you say it is inscribed in Marati? or Bombay writing...Most peculiar bit of kit....Amazing.
Showing related designs in Cannon muzzle and dart gun...

SAALAM IBHRAHIIM,THE JAWS MOVE BUT NOT BY THE TRIGGERS ON THE SIDE,IT IS HOLLOW BUT THE BACK DOES NOT OPEN.THE THROAT IS OPEN ALL THE WAY IN.I GUESS ONE COULD LOAD INTO THE MOUTH OF IT IF IT WAS THAT PURPOSE,THE LEVERS RELEASE WHATEVER WAS BEING HELD INSIDE IT,IT WORKS BUT IT DOESNT DO ANYTHING BECAUSE ITS EITHER MISSING A INTERNAL PART THAT CAME OUT LIKE A DART OR ARROW OR IF IT RELEASED MUSKET BALLS,THANKS

HI
could there have been a spring loaded blade, with the blade being propelled forward on depressing one of the triggers and then allowed to be put back on depressing the other trigger?
Ken

WOULD LEAD MUSKET BALLS FIT IN THE TUBE?. THE TWO TRIGGERS COULD HOLD THEM IN AND BOTH ARE DEPRESSED TO LOAD OR TO RELEASE THEM ONE AT A TIME AND THE TEETH AND FLEXIBLE JAW HOLD THE BALL SO THEY COULD BE TAKEN AND PUT INTO A GUN. THE ITEM JUST DOESN'T STRIKE ME AS A GUN OR KNIFE WITH SOMETHING MISSING BUT SOMETHING ASSOCIATED WITH GUNS. A VERY INTERESTING ITEM :cool:

I think you're on the right track Barry. :)
Can we have a look down its gullet?