The article shown has baffled members of TTTG and any help identifying it would be welcome.
It is about 17 inches long when assembled and the handles are nicely turned from Indian Rosewood. The male part seems to be stainless and is beautifully made to fit on its handle perfectly. The female part seems to be just ordinary steel. They snap together with the spring loaded catch which protrudes both sides. It is almost certainly craftsman made and there are no markings on it. I bought it in a market here in Sydney years ago as a curiosity and thought at the time that it might have had something to do with umbrella manufacture but I now think that is unlikely. Any ideas from yourself or your readers would be greatly appreciated!