Does anyone know what this is?

[pnc75]

It's about 18 cm long, both ends screw off and has three round plastic circles on it.

TIA

[enigmabear]

My first thought was some kind of E-cigarette  .....................but I don't think so,thinking more 

Is it solid or hollow inside?

[pnc75]

Hollow

[twyngwyn]

some sort of scroll holder?

[davidc4430]

maybe for carrying something fragile, like a old fashioned temp guage or a even a pencil.

so they dont break when in transit.

[kopenhagen5]

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@twyngwyn wrote:
some sort of scroll holder?

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Made me think of scroll ends.

But I think this is more specifically for some industry.

I am thinking possibly for weaving, knitting type mechanism.

[countessalmirena]

It looks like a receptacle for a cotton bud.

[collect247]

I haven't seen a cotton bud that's 18cm long haha

[chameleon54]

Davids suggestion of a thermometor holder sounds reasonable. The rings could be padding for the glass bulb and the screw on ends could hold the dangerous mercury if the item breaks in transit. I used to work in a science laboratory many years ago and we used similar items there.

It could even be for a medical thermometer, hence the shiny, sterile metal.

Spoiler

And you know where they insert them dont you  ?.....

[collect247]

The size of it 18cm might even be a veterinarian thermometer holder?