Identification needed.

[Fredline]

I was sent this item by a friend who found it attached to a submerged log in a lake he was clearing. It is 6" long and wonderfully engineered. The threaded end piece locks the blades in situ, either open or closed. The blades are manually set and have very sharp edges considering its age and the amount of time it has possibly spent submerged in water. It appears to be made from a brassy material, phospher bronze? with a steel stem and a lead sliding weight. It has very little corrosion. Has anyone out there in TFFland ever seen anything like this before?

[Davejass]

I haven't seen one of those before but something similar which I believe to be some sort of tackle retrevier.

[Dave Burr]

Anchor for a bait boat?

[Paul D]

That'll be a weedcutter and a very old one too, I have a much later one, see below.

[Davejass]

Yes I thought a weed cutter at first but think that may get stuck very easily with 4 cutters.

[Jardine]

That looks Victorian or Edwardian and well made. Most likely a tackle retriever, but I guess it could be used for clearing a swim.
Is the knurled top fixed ? Fascinating to think how long it had been caught up on that log.
Best regards
Jardine

[Harry H]

seen similar used for climbing I think they are called carabiners
Not sure I would want to pull myself up on that.

[Fredline]

The knurled top is threaded onto the stem and screwed up or down to lock the blades in place.

[Paul F]

Very nice and very old tackle retriever John, no maker markings anywhere?
It is a lucky find, and I would guess it has been there years, does the lake have a long history?

[Luga00]

Looks very like the victorian equivalent of the modern day Jet Ski folding mooring grapnel.