It's ~9 1/2" long, ~1 11/16" wide, an' weighs all of 2 3/4 oz. The plating shows lots of compromise, indicating plenty of use. The shaft an' the end shape are probably steel. The shaft is hexagonal, about 3/16" but irregular, suggesting the tool was hand-forged an' finished prior to plating. The curved an' beveled nose-edge is not sharpened to cut, an' the back plane is slightly convex; I think it may be a specially made heat-pressing tool...an iron...for pleats or other finicky small-areas on garments...but I'm out of my depth with this tool. I would expect color change on the plating as evidence of heating, so really cannot explain how that would have been done. My suggestion about it possibly being of Japanese origin is mostly based on the design an' execution of the wee box in pics 1 & 2.; also, very slightly, on the numeral 7 on the grip, which might be a Kanji character inverted. I'm hopeful that some of y'all will have seen or used such a tool? Thanks for lookin'!
I was about to reply with this link https://jp.mercari.com/item/m58601652586 In the translation it's described as a curling iron And the one from the other link says it's a sewing tool
Yes! Unfortunately, a translation of the text reveals that the seller only knows that they're Meiji or Showa vintage, an' suspects that they're sewing tools. Thanks, Debora!
The top line in the listing reads (according to Google Translate): Japanese Sewing Accessories: Pressing Irons Debora
OK! Now all I need is the detail of what, specifically, it's used for...what unique fold or crease it was designed to service. Thanks, Debora!
