Had to been something a traveling Soldier needed? He would quick carve out a branch for to hold it with from site to site? A foot soldier wouldnt be carrying any extra weight or anything not important...so yeah...I got nothing here...looks like for a specific and important purpose though..for what I cant imagine...those prongs on it had to be there for a reason?...not like most lead ladles...Smallish too, unless the guy was pouring .22 rounds one at a time, it makes no sense!...Mystery! Cool!