Identify Odd Item

[Mac118]

Not sure this is the best forum for this post, but I’ll try here because the origin of the item in question is from someone who did a lot of BP cartridge shooting.

What is it? I found this strange item in a box from the estate of an acquaintance that passed away. It resembles a rifle case about the size of a 30-30 but has an odd pivoting wing soldered to the side. The tube is open on both ends and hollow all the way through. One end is rolled over and the other end has a rim like a rifle cartridge. The wing rotates 360 degrees. It’s made of brass but the thickness of it seems thicker than your average rifle brass case.

Any help identifying this would be appreciated.

219376

219377

219378

[Gunlaker]

Looks strange. Could it be a bore guide for cleaning purposes? Maybe the wing locks into the breech block mortise?

Chris.

[Themoose]

"wing" looks like a rear sight.... possibly used to set up sights with line of bore

[1Hawkeye]

It looks like it might have been made from a cut down .30-06 case. Are there any markings left on the end that looks like a case rim?
What ever it is its very well made. Iv'e never seen one but maybe its for a 1917 Enfield they had a accessory that was used to allow the bolt to close on a empty magazine without having to reach in and depress the follower. Later on they found out a penny would do the same thing.

[woodbutcher]

[smilie=s: Well it`s different.
Good luck.Have fun.Be safe.
Leo

[JSnover]

No idea. It can't be chambered, though the rimmed end could be set into the bolt face. Maybe a home made chamber flag or action lock. With that thing in place the bolt could never close.

[Lead pot]

maybe a one of those extended cigarette holder women used to use tp keep getting brown fingers or a home made or maybe a Boatswains Whistle :)

[Traffer]

Hope you figure it out, I'm intrigued. Some kind of impromptu trajectory angle jig?

[Bazoo]

Maybe its something someone made for their kid to play with, practicing their skills.

[ShooterAZ]

At first I thought it might be some type of powder measure...not sure now.

[JSnover]

I wonder if the owner made it for something entirely different, not firearm-related at all. Or it might never have been a cartridge (op says its thicker than a case should be), maybe part of a toy or a gun-themed trinket. It's not a bottle opener.

[Lead pot]

I would like to see a end view of it to see if there is a prism in the tube. With the way that blade rotates it might be a bore light.

[oldred]

I am really surprised that no one knows what that is as it's quite obviously a spent cartridge from an Asperly Aimless!

[Chill Wills]

I am really surprised that no one knows what that is as it's quite obviously a spent cartridge from an Asperly Aimless!

If you are not pulling our collective legs, then I must be clueless. What is an Asperly Aimless other than a funny reply?[smilie=s::bigsmyl2::bigsmyl2:

[oldred]

Yep pulling your leg for sure, :kidding:

[NoZombies]

I am really surprised that no one knows what that is as it's quite obviously a spent cartridge from an Asperly Aimless!

I think you're on the right track, but with the built in rear sight, I would venture a guess that it's for the previous step in the evolution of the asperly series, and is in fact a casing from the asperly half-aimed.

[coloraydo]

Would that make it a half-asp?

[Mac118]

Thanks for all the replies. I'll take a few more pics of the ends and post them up tomorrow.

[NoZombies]

Would that make it a half-asp?

You're getting it :)

[HangFireW8]

Cleaning rod through the bore, slide it on, use it to align whichever sight is not yet installed.

[Mac118]

Here's a pic of each end.
219573

219574

[missionary5155]

Good morning
One of the old "What-cha-ma-call-it" conversation starters. Old fellers can get terribly lost staring into fires.
Mike in Peru

[Lead pot]

I'm going to give it a guess.
I think it's a bore guide rifle and caliber specific. With that block and blade I think that it is dropped down into the action with the floorplate and follower down and there might be a O-ring missing that fits in the groove to seal the chamber. Once it is down in the follower cut the wing is turned to lock it in.

[Mac118]

Yeah, more and more I'm thinking bore guide to protect the chamber. Thanks for all the great suggestions.