It would be awfully heavy for that. It is pretty hefty steel, and there really isn't any pocket for anything to sit in.Might a sampling spoon. Easy to carry in pocket and holds a sample size. Grain mills take samples to determine number of weed seeds and debris as a percentage of the load. Also allows humidity sample of grain.
My guess.
When closed, it leaves about a 1/16th to 1/8th gap between parts. There is no recess or pocket. I will try to get more pictures when I get back home.So, what happens on the left edge when you open it from pic #1. Is there an Edge that can clamp something, cut something? If clamping, it should open when the device is open and shrink down when flipped closed. If a pot lifter, I would expect it to have an overbite, and pull back as it closes to create the clamp.
Anything inside the cavity on the upper piece from pic #1?

I'm not saying you are wrong, but I don't know how that would work, and it isn't shaped like any strap wrenches I have ever seen.Strap wrench handle?
...Is there an award for stumping the Garage Journal? Doesn't happen very often...
And some of the night owls do the best work. I'm barely out of bed here.It's only been four hours, @freudianfloyd! Some of our gang aren't up yet to see this one.
1958produced this thing in 1957.
1958
I know, but a guy can dream right?It's only been four hours, @freudianfloyd! Some of our gang aren't up yet to see this one.
I'm not finding any lead stretchers that look like this thing.Looks like a lead stretcher for stained glass work. My wife has one in her workshop. You use them to stretch the crooked/bent pieces straight so they are ready to use. You also use them to change the size of the grove in the lead to fit thinner glass pieces.
This ...Kind of reminds me of a leather clamp. There would probably be another part that slips over the whole thing to keep it clamped.
Or this...Some tarp hold downs kind of look like that too.
Definitely NOT this.I think I saw one of those in a **** flick.
oh come on we're free to speculum...I mean speculate.Definitely NOT this.
If I knew, no way I would give it up now.Someone has to know.
