It's been suggested, and I agreed, to place this here for comment.  I will call it my "call for help #1" for tools found in the shop.  Some of you may have seen this in the photo album I'd posted with cleanup pictures.  I'll gladly grab more pictures if need be, but wanted to throw it out there for help in identifying it's purpose.

The best I can figure on appearance is that it supports joining something together - by crimping it with a nice big slam (e.g. a big cable clamp) - or by pouring (e.g. Babbitt) and this is a mold of some sort pressing air out of the pour.

That's a cable cutter.

I have a perfect place for that if it should ever need it! :)

Depending on what's at the end of the punch it could be a cable cutter, speedometer cable cutter/end crimper or battery cable lug crimper.  Same crane design was used for those 3 and probably more.

Thank you both!  I will get more detailed pictures tomorrow.

Yeah
See the slot in the bottom of the "ram" part?  And the pin hole on the side near the bottom?
Its missing either its cable cutter blade or ferrule/button crimper die.
If you lift it up and look at the shape of the bottom directly underneath, you might have an idea of what is missing and look around to make sure you didn't just ditch it in the cleanup.

From what little I can see in the pic I expect cutter.
yours Scott

DUH!!! Sorry for not seeing it for what it is. I have used it!  The upper tool is a vee shape and the lower is two vees with a slot between them for the upper vee. It is the only way to cut heavy steel cable without a torch. Bet that the cutting tools are in the shop somewhere.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Heavy-Duty-Wire-Rope-Steel-Cable-Cutter-Tow-Truck-Forestry-Logging-Tool-/130669637420?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item1e6c846f2c

I wish I knew better what these cutting tools may look like.  I'll tell you this, if I didn't know what it was it hasn't been thrown YET.  I have two workbenches full of things I've yet to figure out or throw awaiting first round help from family. 

Quote from: johnsironsanctuary on March 26, 2012, 01:56:57 PM
DUH!!! Sorry for not seeing it for what it is. I have used it!  The upper tool is a vee shape and the lower is two vees with a slot between them for the upper vee. It is the only way to cut heavy steel cable without a torch. Bet that the cutting tools are in the shop somewhere.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Heavy-Duty-Wire-Rope-Steel-Cable-Cutter-Tow-Truck-Forestry-Logging-Tool-/130669637420?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item1e6c846f2c

No theres other ways easier to cut cables, Actually working on recoverying a sunken small barge we wraped the section we were gonna cut in ductape(so it wouldnt fray while cutting) and took a gasoline powered cuttoff saw with a rescue blade on it an cut it with that. Those saws are rather expesnive thoe.

My dad called last night and in speaking with him confirmed this is in fact a cable cutter.  I spent some time on it today trying to get it unfrozen; with success.  It appears everything needed to cut cables remains intact.  Dad says they used it onsite at the well to custom cut and install the cables between the horsehead and the rod clamp.  Measure, cut, gently unwind the cable flaring it at the end, pull cable through rod clamp, and pour Babbitt around the flared cable inset into the clamp.  He explained (which makes sense) some other tools for the job.

Thanks for all the help.

A closeup of the cutter

There you go, everything you need :)

well, cept...the sledge might swing better with a handle.....;P

If I had been more attentive I would have seen markings "MORSE" on one side and "STARRETT" on the other.  I believe it is a model 1A - but I need to verify the markings.

Very nice tool ya got there.