What is this weirdo ?

[Wallhopper]

Does anyone out there recognize this thing ?

I have no clue. 

Looks like someone is playing a dirty trick. 

Thanks,
 

[Northwoods]

Looks like it would be perfect for ambidextrous folks chopping their ears off.

[lptools]

Is that a manufacturer's mark in the first photo?

[Wallhopper]

Can't really make out the stamping, will look again more closely .... maybe take a macro pic for you folks.
Thanks.

[oldgoaly]

I'd say it has to do with timber framing and making tendons or dovetail joints.

[Bill Houghton]

I'd say it has to do with timber framing and making tendons or dovetail joints.

As far as I know, only God* and/or biology can make a tendon.  Tenons, now, that's a different matter.

I agree that it probably most likely could be has to do with timber shaping of some kind.  I notice that it's designed for someone to use from one side of the work; if you imagine a handle on it, and spin the head around, the cutter presents to the work the same way on both sides.  Maybe it was for someone who didn't want to stop and sharpen too often.
----------
*Props to Joyce Kilmer and her poem "Trees," the punchline of which I am paraphrasing/stealing

[lptools]

Hello, Bill. I tried to flip it around 180° like a propellor, or rotating it 180° like clock hands, and I agree it still cuts from the same side from both ends. Oldgoaly, I hope you don't mind a little teasing, when I read "making tendons", I started to squirm. I recently separated the tendon from the top of my kneecap, & had it re-attached. I would hate to think the surgeon was using one of those while I was under anesthesia!!!!! http://www.papawswrench.com/vboard/Smileys/popos/shocked.gif

[oldgoaly]

no problem I speel tearable!

[RWalters]

Bill Houghton - His poem, not hers. Alfred Joyce Kilmer was an American poet. He was killed in the Second Battle of the Marne in 1918. While "Trees" is arguably his best known work, he did publish other poems before his untimely death.

[turnnut]

looking at this tool a few times, and reading about turning the tool 180 degrees, yes, it would be the same, but,
if you removed the handle and put it in on the other side, now you would be cutting to the left.

a thought occurred to me,  it may be way off base, but, if you had a tree lying on the ground and was standing on it,
could you debark it with this tool instead of a debarking spud ??

 just a random thought from an old feeble mind.

[Bill Houghton]

Bill Houghton - His poem, not hers. Alfred Joyce Kilmer was an American poet. He was killed in the Second Battle of the Marne in 1918. While "Trees" is arguably his best known work, he did publish other poems before his untimely death.

Thank you for the correction.  I didn't know, as I demonstrated earlier today.

[Wallhopper]

a thought occurred to me,  it may be way off base, but, if you had a tree lying on the ground and was standing on it,
could you debark it with this tool instead of a debarking spud ??
 

I'm with you there Turnnut 
One edge may have been sharpened for breaching the bark (or cutting a small limb/knot) and the other edge dubbed off as to follow the separation and not dig into the log or the peeling bark.
One could put the handle in whichever side is most comfortable regarding dexterity, then work the log up one side then down the other.
The curve matches some of the "pole" type spuds I've seen while searching around for clues.
Although I cannot find any other examples, I'll bet a dollar to a doughnut you are right.
Thanks,
 

[Wallhopper]

Is that a manufacturer's mark in the first photo?

Here is a close-up of the stamping.
I can't quite make it out.
Maybe you can ... or might recognize it.
Thanks,
 

[lptools]

Hello, Turnnut. I stand corrected!!! You figured out a way to make it ambidextrous. Thanks, Lou

[turnnut]

 I  believe that my theory is wrong.

 stay tuned to this subject.   the answer may be posted soon.

 I have to verify my new findings.