What is it?

one of my old party chiefs would tell you that's a foreskin cleaner.....and you'all wonder how I got this way....o.O

Looks to be about 7" - 8" long? Beyond that I can't even offer a reasonable guess. Nothing to do with the compass itself - that I am reasonably sure of.

Whatever It Is, It Is One Of Two

Based on the depressions, one is missing. The wood color does not look right for it to be an original.

My guess it is a sighting pin for determining declination from Polaris.

Paul in PA

Looks like a ball at the end of a Jacobs staff. Maybe a short support for adjustment of the compass.

Whatever It Is, It Is One Of Two

> Based on the depressions, one is missing.

those two depressions in the felt, are for the two brass sight vanes which are held in place with the rotating wood latch

looks to me like it may be a punch and it is not found in the Gurley "manual"

Whatever It Is, It Is One Of Two

I missed that the sights had screws holding them on and did not fold.

It is fancier than it needs to be, whatever it is.

Paul in PA

From the 1878 Gurley Manual: (the hyperbole is mine)

"THE JACOB STAFF mountings which are furnished with all our compasses, and packed in the same case, consist of the brass head already mentioned, and an iron ferule or shoe pointed with steel, so as to be set firmly in the ground. The staff; to which the mountings should be securely fastened, is procured from any wheelwright, or selected by the surveyor himself from a sapling of the forest."

Was he a midget?

>an iron ferule or shoe pointed with steel

For use with a compass?? Seems counter to accuracy.

Dimple tool to insure repeatable compass set ups

> >an iron ferule or shoe pointed with steel
>
> For use with a compass?? Seems counter to accuracy.

If directly under the center of the compass it may not create a problem.

I'd say Paden Cash hit it on the head. They probably shipped with the compass that way so they just weren't bouncing around in the case, then the surveyor was suppose to make his own staff.