Unknown Weapon

[Ibrahiim al Balooshi]

Salaams David,
I agree with your point 3 in particular... however, since we have a debate I was thinking about the floating "d ring" well described at #1 as a sliding metal clasp, which, it is assumed keeps the assembly in place when being transported... but which is, I suspect, the hanging point of one side of the scales so that there are, in fact, not two dishes... but one ... so that the scales follow a similar style to chinese opium scales. That would also explain why there is no hole in the redundant other end.. The other missing parts are the weighing dish and its likely 4 hanging cords and the hook and weight assembly built to hang on the "d ring" which is mobile across its bar. It would appear that the graticules determining weight are inscribed on the bar itself... which is also the case at #1 .

See Chinese Opium Scale picture below;

I agree this does not appear to be a weapon.

Regards,
Ibrahiim al Balooshi.