Originally Posted by
silvertate
Since the trim switch is a rocker switch, rather than a true switch, is is possible this refers to the trimmer.
Didn't see a comment in Russian language blogs where a Boeing pilot would immediately recognise "knuppel", like "Oh, I know what it is." Russian Boeing pilots seem to have learned their aircraft in English manuals and documentation that don't mention the name. Older generation technicians, though, recalled knuppel.
Can be knuppel was fed to the media because it allows for different interpretations. Or it was obvious for the leak source that it is a perfect knuppel.
I give up.