Is this an old pen? Brass with a jewel.

[Hilux]

Found by the river about 10 inches down.

Its brass with a jewel (decorative?) on the rear end. One end is split probably from some sort of ferrous insert that has rusted and expanded.

Any idea what it may be?

 

[sand surfer]

may be a vintage quill holder



quill pen in the picture is not mine

 

[grubstake]

Possibly a decorative pen from an antique diary or notebook, designed to be stored in the crease of the binding so that a pen is always ready for use when needed.

 

[Greg_wilson]

A refillable lead pencil called a propellor pencil

 

[Hawkear]

Two votes for a dip nib pen (decorative). Probably like Grubstake said made to fit into a diary or compendium.
I remember them well from school. Ours were usually made cheaply of wood.
Also remember the ink wells that used to be filled with cheap school ink out of a bottle with a special rubber ink well filler cap. The ink was an uninspiring dark grey colour and some of us bought their own ink bottle out of pocket money. QUINK ink was a favourite for its lovely blue colour.
Other suggestion could be an instrument of torture out of a doctors or dentists bag.

 

[Hilux]

Thanks all - you've put me on the path.
I think it may be a propelling pencil as Greg suggested. The front has a ferrous insert that has corroded and split the body.
It's my son''s find . I'll see what it looks like after it's cleaned up and if we can withdraw the internal bits.

Quite a neat find.

Some similar ones here;

https://fs.wp.odu.edu/dwittkow/victorian-propelling-pencils/

 

[MegsyB007]

Yep, a refillable pencil. Could be 100 years old!

Nice find!

Cheers,
Megsy