Please Help -- What is this?

[CourseEight]

Hello all --

I recently got this, but have no idea what it is. I doubt its a weapon, but I can't think of what it might be. It's brass, made in two pieces, with the rod threaded and screwing into the "head." On the head part, there is a seel piece inserted as shown, almost like a giant safety razor. The stones appear to be genuine, as opposed to plastic.

Any help would be greatly appreciated!

--Radleigh

[ariel]

Strangely, it reminds me of an Afghani Lohar.

[Valjhun]

That's because it is Afghan

And not antique. Those were used in the past for cutting flintstones for jezails. Now they are produced as a tourist item and often brought back by GI's from Afghanistan.

[CourseEight]

Thanks!

[Valjhun]

Here is mine... A gift form a Slovenian officer stationed in Kabul.

[Jim McDougall]

Wow! I am extremely impressed, this rang absolutely no bells at fist viewing, but Ariel's observation noting resemblance to a lohar was clearly most astute!

Valjhun, nicely done with your identification and comments, thank you.
This is great for the notes on very unusual ethnographic items

Now with this strange item identified I can see a degree of geometric decoration resemblance, and in recalling the earlier discussions on the mysteries of the lohar, I recall observations that they too may be recently produced for souveniers. It is interesting to see these implements and weapons produced in modern times represented vestigially to recall the traditions and history of thier former uses.

Thank you very much gentlemen!!!

All the best,
Jim

[CourseEight]

Yup, that's it all right! Thanks for posting the picture. Mine just came from a junk shop for a few dollars. I figured it was touristy, but it was pretty and ethnographic-looking so bought it.

Thanks to you I now know where its from!

--Radleigh