...or it might be a sword, stuck deep into the couch!

Bridge is a cookware company that for a while although a New York company imported cookware from France made to its own specs by French manufacturers. Meat tenderizers styled like this are not as common as the mallet type but are actually a thing (as are ones shaped like brass knuckles, strangely). They were sometimes made of brass although now are more commonly stainless steel. So I think that's what it is although I am partial to the "Sword in the Couch" theory.

QuoteThe base is inscribed "Bridge.  Made in France".

After that last batch i engraved for the runways at DIA, i had to engrave one of the rejects that now resides in the bass room...

Quote from: hankster on October 19, 2020, 06:52:14 AM
  So I think that's what it is although I am partial to the "Sword in the Couch" theory.

LOL...Who will be King (and of what?)   

Following up on Richard's post, I found this example ...

https://d3h6k4kfl8m9p0.cloudfront.net/stories/KtiGV8fpzgvD6C-7zmkfGg.jpeg

Quote from: elwoodblue on October 19, 2020, 07:48:56 AM

Quote from: hankster on October 19, 2020, 06:52:14 AM
  So I think that's what it is although I am partial to the "Sword in the Couch" theory.

LOL...Who will be King (and of what?)   

Why, you will Rule Couchland of course!

.....and the National food of that place is potatoes.

I think Richard "Hankster" has solved the mystery.  As many of you know, I just returned from driving California-NY-California as my 95 year old mom just got out of the hospital and moved into an assisted living facility.  I was, among other things, clearing out my mom's apartment and brought this interesting piece back with me.  I've been staring at it for years, or even decades.  My wife and I were puzzled, so we thought what better esoteric knowledge base than this group of folks.  Y'all came through!  (Though I would prefer if it were actually Sword-In-The-Couch ... I'd love to rule over Barco-Lounger Land).

Bill, tgo

I did something like that once when my 96yo Grandfathers estate was sold (before the internet existed). I grabbed this thing that I could not figure out what it was. It had a gun trigger in a small brass case with 12 blades that it cocked and then fired so that they swished out the top and back in. Turns out it was a very old 'Scarificator' which was used to medically bleed people couple hundred of years ago. It replaced leeches! I sold it for pretty good money after I discovered what it was.

Good work Team! 

Quote from: gtrguy on October 19, 2020, 04:56:13 PM
Turns out it was a very old 'Scarificator' ...

...wondering if Paul Gilbert had one in mind with his song "Scarified" 

This illustrates what everyone already knows - there is no question too obscure  for old musicians to answer, nor too unprofitable. If only we could harness our powers for good, instead of plain old fun and companionship!

Shoot, would that mean I would have to give up my plan for world domination?

meat pounder. never woulda got that, but I can see why this type is obscure now as a mallet would be more efficient...

Interesting, I was going to guess potato masher...I guess I was in the right category!