Hi there,
Not only is this a wheellock spanner but a combination tool, in that its flattened lower end acted as a screwdriver! The ring was for a attaching a suspension cord.
Moreover, the round hole was meant to measure and identify the caliber of the lead balls used (caliber gauge, German: Kugellehre); its small diameter denotes that the spanner once accompanied a pistol or carbine.
Tools of this kind can be dated to the Thirty Years War era (1618-48).
Best,
Michael
Last edited by Matchlock; 6th October 2013 at 10:27 AM.
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