Flash hole cleaner?

Looks quite purposefully made - by hand. About 3-1/4" overall length. The steel part was round stock to begin with, 0.048" diameter. Squared on the pointy end with a taper of about .020" to .035". There is edge wear at about 0.025" thickness, 3/4" from the tip, where it appears to have seen the most use in a reamer like fashion. Squared again where it fits into the brass. Fairly hard steel. The knurling on the brass end looks like it was just beat against rough concrete or stone.

 

that's odd..!
and petite..

 

Mini-Awl!!!! (Truthfully, other than that wild guess, I haven't a clue!!)

 

Some type of antique watch makers tool as it is so small - and looks homemade.?

 

Is the long steel section all one piece or could the front part retract into the rear part like a spring-loaded stiletto or automatic center-punch? I asked my Machinist buddies about this via the listserv we use as a forum.

 

It's one piece of steel. Pressed into a slit in the brass.

 

Maybe an oil dipstick for small engine; the sharp change in diameter is at desired oil level.

Or cockroach skewer.

Anti-ant spear

A comonic

A flazper

..
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