Strange Brass Thing.....see pics

[mojjax]

It seems to be brass or bronze . It is quite heavy for its size .
Any ideas welcome!

 

[frogwizard]

The part sticking out looks to me like on of those tools that engraves. Maybe some sort of engraver that needs water to cool it while it works?

 

[traderoftreasures]

i thought engraver at first, and then i thought copper might be to soft to engrave very much.

 

[jpitt1970]

Part of an old surveying Transit?