Help to Identify unusual object

[Acco]

Belongs to a friend of a friend. Need help to identify what it is.

Middle bit spins.

image.jpgimage.jpg

[mark david]

Has a bit of a home-made look to it.
Possibly a pen- holder or even pencils

[cava]

How big is it, dimensionally?

[Acco]

Sorry don't have any dimensions but going on the grain of the wood in the background I'd say the middle bit looks to be about 50mm diameter

[Sir Stinkalot]

It reminds me a little of the mini sword / toothpick holders. Similar idea to this:

http://www.worthpoint.com/worthopedi...do-swords-mini

[Acco]

I think you're on the ball Stinky

Going by that description I found via Google images, Miniature Cocktail Sword Holder

[Acco]

It reminds me a little of the mini sword / toothpick holders. Similar idea to this:

http://www.worthpoint.com/worthopedi...do-swords-mini

You were right Stinky, she even found a matching one on Google

[Sir Stinkalot]

Glad to hear that I am useful for something.

They must have been popular at some stage. I remember that my grandparents had two sets very similar, if not the same, as the example I posted. I remember as a kid playing with the mini swords. The mind boggles as to what they were actually used for and what would drive a person to think that they would be needed in the home. I remember that my grandparents just had them on display.

I think I may now have them in storage somewhere. There was also a matching letter opener which was just a larger version of the small sword.