I'm told this is a shake makers tool, but

[skipskip]

I cant find a picture under that name, I bet it's something else.

Shingle tool?

Wm Beatty and son
 cast steel
 Chester

with a pic of a cow over it

AOCT0085 by skipskip, on Flickr

more pics here:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/skipskip/15383328970/in/set-72157648710018705/

[Branson]

Shake maker's ax?  I don't see how it would be useful in making shakes (which are usually made with a froe).  The "head" end is a little odd.  It might be a bec d'ane with the adz like end broken off.  But I think it's a version of a hurdle maker's ax, used to rough out the mortises in making hurdles.