Well with the baseball bat end on it that suggests it was made for 'striking' something as the flared end keeps it from slipping out of your hand. And without the same flared part a few inches down that suggests it was not made for pounding vertically as your hand would slip down the shaft. So pounding on meat to tenderize could be the purpose. Also some sea foods and other foods that need to be pounded to break up the hard texture in the product to make them edible as well I would guess. "OR" it was made to beat politicians to death that over tax people...........