What is this?!

[BingoFucklinger]

My friend has received a mystery object in the post. She arrived home to it on her doormat this evening. Please, someone, put us out of our misery and tell us what it is!

It's about 2 feet long and the metal bits flap. I tried a reverse image search and google tells me it's a... can opener.

Is it a laundry prop?

Don't think so. Not that long and nothing to hook the line with.

The metal bit looks a bit like a toggle bolt, those fancy bolts you have to use when your walls are made of dust to stop your newly hung item from falling out (and taking half the wall with it)

When you say received in the post, was it packaged up?

If not, I'd suspect someone's tried to hook keys / open the lock with it through her letter box.

Packaged up and left by their front door. Currently addressed but no defining features on the packaging.

The metal bits are very flappy, no resistance.

Spare part for a whirly-gig washing line?

Looks like a replacement sweeping brush handle?! The metal flappy bits attach to the brush head

I have a gardening tool that’s a bit like this but all metal. It’s a compost aerator. You push it down into the compost and the metal bits close against the pole. You pull it out, and as you pull, the metal bits open, so it lifts up some of the compost. Stops the compost getting compacted, adds air, and the compost breaks down more quickly.

Good job I’m not ashamed to be a garden gadgets nerd

Is it one of those things people used to use on old fashioned, open top washing machines, to stir and poke the laundry and pull it out?