Need help identifying this homemade tool found in a family toolbox. Thanks!

[g8waymeem]

Hi Everyone,
I was wondering if anyone know what this tool was used for? It is a smooth metal blade with a rectangular piece of metal soldered (welded?) to it. There are no sharp edges. The base of the blade has non-symetrical curves where it joins the handle. The blade also has a slight curve about 2/3 of the way.

Thanks so much for your help.

[DIYer]

Interesting. I'd say some sort of scraper, but it would help if what kind of trade/skill that toolbox is for.

[g8waymeem]

Thanks DYIer! It was in a plumbers toolbox, but so were a lot of other ordinary tools. The edge of the blade is blunt, so not sure it was used for scraping. If you look closely at the upper corners of the welded piece, you will see wear.
Originally, I thought the end was a magnet, but it is not.
What a mystery!

[Bikerchico Olivas]

For packing lead in the pipeline use way back in timr

[g8waymeem]

Wow! Thanks Bikerchico!!
I guess the user wanted it to be a little wider and just added another piece of metal to the end. My family demonstrated a lot of ingenuity, especially when cash was tight.
Thanks again!

[Jon]

Good call Bikerchico Olivas!

Looks like it's also called a "caulking iron".

[Nadogail]

I agree, it must have been used to the drive oakum into the bell of the pipe joint before pouring the lead.

Probably almost a lost and forgotten art.

[gafferlyons]

This a tool used to wipe joints in Lead pipes, that is why the wear is on the flat face. A common plumbers tool of yesteryear.

[buzzpa]

I've seen these before and they were being used to scrape the "ways" on machine tool slides. A machinist would scrape-in the slides to make them move freely without leaving any play in them. ... Most of the ones I saw were home made.

[DIYer]

A caulking iron then. Good to know! With the prevalence of PVC, it's no wonder that tool isn't so common nowadays.