Can you help me identify this item?

[simbatcat]

I would appreciate any help in identifying this object.

[fancypants]

Welcome to the forum , simbatcat .

My first guess would be that it may be a burnishing tool for pottery items .

Let's see what others here say !

[sapphire]

Welcome simbatcat!  Haven't got a clue as to what you have but have two questions for you....

What is the name on the handle?

Does the center part swivel?

[talesofthesevenseas]

I'm thinking potato peeler, but I haven't found a double-handled one like it yet.

[waywardangler]

A MacGyver zip line tool ?  Hang on to the wooden handles, have the cable in the center dished section, and hang on.

[luxetveritas]

Tricky item indeed! Like Sapphire said, the name on the handle would be most helpful (for example, if it is indeed a burnishing tool the name might be of a pottery supply company or what not).

[KC]

Two ideas.....

trim tool for large pottery items....

double handled grip to fly a kite!

Go with the first one 

[waywardangler]

It greatly resembles a spokeshave that is missing the cutter parts.  Are any of the metal parts marked with a name?

[luxetveritas]

Interesting ideas regarding a trim tool, but it seems a bit too large to accurately trim a pot. Generally trim tools are small to enable the potter to cut and trim the sides delicately. I suppose this could be used to flatten large uneven spots?

[regularjoe2]

I though the same waywardang , sort of , prior to researching the original posters' location & business .

[cogar]

The size, double handles and rounded center piece, …. my guess it that it is a “smoothing” or ”pressing” tool, …. possibly for “forming” leather or metal against a hard surface. 

The only reason for a “double handle” is for control and applying pressure. Same as with a “spoke shave” or a “draw knife”.

[waywardangler]

Being that this is 18" long, considerable muscle can be applied to whatever it is used on.  I wonder if it has anything to do with working a hide over a post to soften it after tanning?  It still seems to me that something is missing from the center section.  It looks like there are 2 stops preventing the middle dished piece from rotating in a complete revolution around the center rod.  Simbatcat, what does the center portion do or not do?  Are there any markings anywhere on this 'tool'?

[simbatcat]

There is no name on handle or anywhere else.  The center does not rotate.  If you remove the end nut the thing does disassemble.  There are no sharp blades.  Thanks all for your input.

[luxetveritas]

Interesting. Totally agree with Cogar as to the pressure/control thing. I did a little bit of looking in an antique tools book I have, but alas no luck (it's mostly for woodworking anyway). I'll continue to look, but I'm out of guesses for now!

[waywardangler]

I have about 30 old tool books including the "Dictionary of American Hand Tools" that contains illustrations of every hand tool type made for the last 150 years and a brief description.  The only tools remotely resembling this unknown are a carriage (or coach) makers spokeshave (due to the long 18" length) and a riding boot leather shank burnisher.  Both are long and both have double wood handles.  If it is a spokeshave, the center parts that would show wear are missing and what is left would show virtually no wear to the metal parts.  If it is a shank burnisher, the metal parts should exhibit smoothness from burnishing leather over a period of time.  If there is no wear showing, I do not think this is a burnisher.  If it is neither one of these, I am at a total loss.