Compass – Where Did It Come From?
I feel like I’m missing something. Where did the compass originate?
1. Locke got it from present-time Richard at the plane wreck.
2. Locke flashed back in time and gave it to in-the-past Richard.
3. Richard held onto it. Eventually gives it to flash-forward Locke.
What am I missing? If Locke got it from Richard, and Richard got it from Locke, where did it come from?

You see locke already had it. Richard gave it to him(now he has 2) to assure him that time would correct itself. He didn’t give Richard a compass that had been given to him by richard. he gave him the compass he had from the start. Thats the only thing I can come up with.
I read on another forum that the compass is French, and labeled N, S, E, and O.