Not mine, I just Saw this for sale in my area and I’m stumped, what on earth is it? 

Left-handed turnip twaddler (1949 model).

Lol, I guess we can call it that until someone comes along with another idea! 

i thought that was a 7949 but maybe my eyes are off, 

How tall is it? It looks like it was made to support something; perhaps while it was being worked on.  John I thought it was a "Steel Banana Stand." but few people buy steel bananas these days!

I was thinking it was the tail end of a very heavy scorpion sculpture.

Although, steel banana stand is pretty good too... I'm going to need to find some bigger bananas..

20 minutes ago, TWISTEDWILLOW said:

i thought that was a 7949 but maybe my eyes are off

No, you were right. Must be the July 9, 1949 model. Unless it's European, in which case it would be the 7 September, 1949 model.

4 minutes ago, Frazer said:

steel banana stand is pretty good too...

It's used to balance the heavy metals in bananas. See :  //ir.unimas.my/id/eprint/17734/

On a more serious note (although I better liked the other ideas, they were a hoot....!), I have seen items like that used by chain makers.  After making the first weld on the anvil, the chain link is draped over the "hook" and further hammered to complete the weld and shape.  I made one like this and it works pretty well.  I used a large square bar and forged the hook shape in it.

That's one idea. What comes to my mind is a cobblers last for adjusting shoes, I've seen some very interesting looking one's.

Looks kinda cobblerish to me too.

That was my first thought that it was a cobblers tool or some other kind of leather working tool, but I’ve done several online searches and I can’t find anything that looks like it, 

I thought the smooth back on it made it look like it was supposed to bend something but I dunno what, that’s why I took a screenshot so I could ask y’all lol, 

  It's a metal sculpture bird beak.     How much loot were they asking for it?

They wanted $25 

I also saw the listing for it and wondered what it was.  After reading the description its clearly what it was listed as...Blacksmith bender.

  That clears it up!  

They didn't have a clue, so went with the description that they thought would get the most traffic and highest price.

I believe you are correct, but it is bending the brains of some blacksmiths, so I stand by what the description says....blacksmith bender

Well hopefully someone on the forum comes along that know exactly what it is! But until then I guess we can call it a blacksmith bender lol

4 hours ago, arkie said:

On a more serious note (although I better liked the other ideas, they were a hoot....!), I have seen items like that used by chain makers.  After making the first weld on the anvil, the chain link is draped over the "hook" and further hammered to complete the weld and shape.  I made one like this and it works pretty well.  I used a large square bar and forged the hook shape in it.

I couldn't find the old video of the old blacksmiths using a chain making tool similar to the mystery tool, but I did find one by Joey van der Steeg (Technicus Joe, a member here).  It doesn't have a foot, but fits in the hardie hole.  Maybe someone can find the old b/w videos of the chainmakers.

If I recall right, there was a good old B & W chain making video on You tube, unfortunately it was removed from circulation. I had several bookmarked but deleted that bookmark. This is the only one I have now. It shows the bender if you go full screen, however it is made  right on the anvil and the quality isn't that good.

 

Randy, the video I was searching for had the smiths seated at a workbench and anvil, forging smaller chain links which were probably only 2"-3" long.  It may have been one that had been removed.  It had much better, close-up resolution.