What is this?
 

A fb friend came across this in his father-in-law's tool box. Anyone know what it is?

A serious instrument of torture?

If it has a patent number on it, you might be able to search for it that way.

It looks like something that would have been used to "thread" or "weave" something. I searched several hundred "old" tools photos and did not find anything that even remotely resembles it.

Maybe you could call someone at Guantanamo Bay.

I appears to be a "Chinese Antique Puzzle 9 Linked Ring Jiu-lian-huan Iq Game", and not a tool after all. Worth in the whopping $ 10 range.

Yes,
A fb friend is a Facebook Friend.

curling iron

Yep.
We used to make them, as kids............

It's a "Gonkulator". ("I could just scream!"). Sometimes found on PT boats.

Chinese Antique Puzzle 9 Linked Ring Jiu-lian-huan Iq Game Brain Storm Gift Box
by Puzzle
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Price: $9.99 + $5.00 shipping

Product Details [from Amazon]
Shipping Information: View shipping rates and policies
Origin: China
ASIN: B00E3CP5U6
Manufacturer recommended age: 3 years and up
Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #705,096 in Toys & Games (See Top 100 in Toys & Games)
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Wondering how hard it is to solve? Apparently in China, three year olds can solve it.