Material: Unidentified non-magnetic metal. Appears to have been painted, possibly with black enamel.

Weight: approximately .2 oz.

Condition: Excellent. Some small holes. The metal is still “springy.” No part of the object appears to exhibit wear except some minor upward plastic deformation in the outside edges of the three small rectangular holes in each of the flanges.

Speculation: This appears to be a spring clip used to hold a replaceable cylindrical object securely in place against a flat surface. The strength and springiness of the metal suggests that it may be a non-magnetic type of stainless steel. The three rectangular holes in each side of the flange may have fit over pins to prevent longitudinal movement of the clip while the raised edges of the flanges may have fit under a lip to prevent lateral movement.

Could this be a clip to hold an accessory (such as an inverting eyepiece) securely in a sextant box? In his telegram of to the resident commissioner of September 23, 1940, Gallagher says the sextant that was once in the box he found was “probably painted over with black enamel.” (see Bones Chronology)