Sterling silver "alley find"-What the heck is it?!?!

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Sterling silver "alley find"-What the heck is it?!?!

Hello all. I found this in an alley in a pile of lumber about five years ago. It has been a pet project of mine to find out what the heck it is. It about twelve inches long, marked sterling on the small end of the shaft and has the script initials EMS on the knob.
I thought it may be a parasol handle since it is slender at the tapered end and then I thought a walking stick knob or riding crop but it is too thin.
Looks to be art noveu from the twenties or earlier but I cant tell.
Any new information would be great! I may not have hit silver with my XLT yet but I found a good hunk without it!!
 

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Re: Sterling silver "alley find"-What the heck is it?!?!

I'd say you are close to umbrella handle. (left one)

Tony
 

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Re: Sterling silver "alley find"-What the heck is it?!?!

Does it come apart? Maybe a hidden dagger inside? Cool find. And welcome to the forum.
 

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Re: Sterling silver "alley find"-What the heck is it?!?!

Angelo said:
I'd say you are close to umbrella handle. (left one)

Tony

Or walking stick... but the whole hidden blade thing is intruiqing!
 

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Re: Sterling silver "alley find"-What the heck is it?!?!

Kinda looks like a wand used in a procession.Or a scepter.
 

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Re: Sterling silver "alley find"-What the heck is it?!?!

Also, military officers had "swagger sticks"...
 

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Re: Sterling silver "alley find"-What the heck is it?!?!

Nope, doesnt come apart. Solid with a leather piece still in the shaft end. I think its too dainty and thin for a standard umbrella handle, but it definitely was something personal in nature.
 

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Re: Sterling silver "alley find"-What the heck is it?!?!

Wierd... what do you call those things that fellas used to just carry, and tuck up under their arms... I have no idea. Not as long as a cane, just maybe a foot and half or two feet long?

I can see it in my mind's eye...
 

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Re: Sterling silver "alley find"-What the heck is it?!?!

Like Montana said.. a "swagger stick". Just like Colonel Clink from Hogans heros. Me thinks a little too...how should I say......."Frilly" with the flower thing going on.
 

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Re: Sterling silver "alley find"-What the heck is it?!?!

Not really heavy for sterling. The knob is hollow just like the shaft. I dont have a full picture of it but if you can imagine the picture of the knob, shaft and the small end put together on a long taper (full length of about 10 inches) you can get a picture of what it looks like.

With the initials on the knob, I dont thing it would be from a mortar and pestle set. Besides that, I think mortar and pestles are smooth so they wont hold any material. With the initials on the head and the designs AND the leather roll in the small end, i think it took a slender shaft of some sort.

All of these are great guesses, but so far none quite fit, but keep em com'in!!!!
 

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Re: Sterling silver "alley find"-What the heck is it?!?!

Montana Jim said:
Also, military officers had "swagger sticks"...
Yeah , they would use them to point at charts and maps .
 

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Re: Sterling silver "alley find"-What the heck is it?!?!

The design looks too flowery to be a man's swagger stick. Did women swagger? LOL It would sure be nice to see a photo of the entire thing. It's kinda hard to cut and paste with my eyeballs. LOL
 

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Re: Sterling silver "alley find"-What the heck is it?!?!

Sorry! I was going to take a full on picture and post it, but the wife (in all of her infinite wisdom) has it packed up in a box that I took into the basement a few days ago. Of course I cant tell which box is which so I will have to dig a little now and post a lot later.
 

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Re: Sterling silver "alley find"-What the heck is it?!?!

How large is the open end? Threaded?

I'm guessing parasol handle.

3e77_1.JPG
 

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Re: Sterling silver "alley find"-What the heck is it?!?!

Montana Jim said:
Wierd... what do you call those things that fellas used to just carry, and tuck up under their arms... I have no idea. Not as long as a cane, just maybe a foot and half or two feet long?

I can see it in my mind's eye...
a cracker
 

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Re: Sterling silver "alley find"-What the heck is it?!?!

Since your find is kind of "foo foo" could it be an Equestrian whip/crop?

Tony
 

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Re: Sterling silver "alley find"-What the heck is it?!?!

Montana Jim said:
Angelo said:
Since your find is kind of "foo foo" could it be an Equestrian whip/crop?

Tony

foo-foo :D

Idaho term for fancy, you silly.

Tony
 

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Re: Sterling silver "alley find"-What the heck is it?!?!

Its a little too thin and light for a riding crop, methinks. Still leading toward parasol since it is so "Foo Foo"!
Dang, I wish I could find which box its in to get a good pic. Still looking for it and will post when I can.
 

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