Mystery tool - What is it?

[w1im]

This is a tool that I found with a metal detector in Vermont. It was nearby an old cellar hole and was only 4-5" underground.

It is made of steel or iron and has a cutting edge on the bottom, a sharp point and a wide hook on top. The other end looks like it could have had a handle attached to it at some point. The wide side is about 3/8" thick and the hook is about 1/2" thick/wide.

The tool seems too heavy to be a one hand tool, like a machete, so I'm thinking it would be used with 2 hands and maybe with a long handle.

There is a stamp visible near the handle end but it is unintelligible.

Can anyone offer suggestions on what it may be?

I have one idea but I want to see if anyone else comes to the same conclusion before I post it.

Thanks.

 

[ybnormal70]

I'm going to go with some type of antique hand sythe or sickle blade.

Kevin

 

[Can I try?]

It looks to me as if it's almost a hybrid between a machete and a brush axe.

My guess is it was meant for dealing with woody vines, like grape vines.

 

[Greeny]

Maybe a type of brush hook or brush axe. Here's a current version:
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B001G08UJQ/?tag=atomicindus08-20

 

[DenisG]

I call it a Kaiser blade. Uh huh.

 

[w1im]

Seems like the consensus is something like a Brush Hook. That was my thought also. It must weigh 6lbs, so it would be like swinging a small sledge hammer around. Not for the faint of heart.

Thanks for the input.

 

[Richard Cranium]

it is a cane knife, used to harvest molasses cane.

 

[FullRaceMerc]

Shiv.

Got a prison nearby?

 

[Fretters]

Looks very close in design to some types of billhook.

 

[jkwilson]

it is a cane knife, used to harvest molasses cane.

Yep. Cane or corn knife. The handle being bent in the direction of the edge is a very common feature.

 

[landrover bodger]

it looks like the blade from what we call a billhook