What is this tool?

[Jon]

What is this tool?

[mklotz]

Hmm, that's a tough one.

The shape of the handle suggests it is used in both a push and pull motion which would be consistent with what look like sharp edges on the business end.

The red paint suggests a fireman's tool. Lumbermen, who have a plethora of strange-looking tools, use something similar for rapidly removing small branches from felled trees. Sometimes they paint their tools vivid colors so they can be found easily if dropped in the leaf litter.

[mklotz]

So, Jon, are you going to reveal all?

[Jon]

Fireman's tin roof removal tool. Essentially an early version of the more famous New York Roof Hook, featured here: http://www.fireservicewarrior.com/wp...Hook-Final.pdf

[mklotz]

Interesting. I can remember seeing all the sheet metal roofs in Hawaii and wondering how they dealt with them in the event of a fire.