Woodworking or mechanical?

[toolmiser]

Metal looks hand made. Tip isn't real sharp, probably wasn't for cutting.
Total length about 2 feet.

[BruceS]

Could be a reefing iron.   Used to remove caulking from between ships planking.

[john k]

It is kind of long, but could be a bearing scraper.   For contouring poured lead bearings.  An interesting tool, did you buy it?

[mvwcnews]

If it took & held an edge, could be for squaring off the bottom of a "socket" for mortise joints in timber.  There were "cranked" chisels for that purpose.  Just a surmise.

[john k]

wait,,, two feet long,,,, couldn't that be a parting tool for wood turning?

[Branson]

The handle kinda looks like a lathe tool handle, but the blade looks like it could catch and be ripped out of your hands pretty easily...
What's the thickness of the blade?
It *could* be a lock mortise chisel, though I've never seen one that was straight -- usually they're curved behind the edge so that they bear against the sides of the mortise so as not to deform the top edges.

[toolmiser]

I mislead you folks, I was too lazy to get a ruler, so the actual length is 18".  The bar size is 7/16" wide, and 1/2" thick.  The tool is mine, I picked it up at a garage sale, not knowing what it was (never stops me), and the handle made it interesting.  My picture doesn't show it, and I don't think it makes any difference, but there is a 5/16" hole drilled thru near the top (I assumed it was for either a leather loop, or to hang it up.   It doesn't look like it had ever been sharpened Thanks for all your replies,

[rusty]

Could just be for prying up dandilions or something ;P

There are tools for lathe work that are not normally sharpened, for metal forming (making copper bowls etc...)

[scottg]

I think Rusty might have it....... metal spinning.
These can cut, but a lot of it has to do with leverage and pressure.
   It looks a little wimpy for the heavy work, but maybe detail work? 
 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gqw8EnrRflE

   yours Scott