Mountaineering???

I’d go for mountaineering too..

I had an ice axe with a head pick at this angle in the 60-70s the serrations are designed to hold but are too shallow . I modified mine with rapid oxy acetelene  heating to bend it steeper. Then very effective !but replaced when I could afford it.   The shaft was wood and not strong. Hamish Mc innes first introduced a metal axe with a Hinduminium shaft, made in his back garage my dad was a good friend having supplied him with walkie-talkies for an early attempt at Everest face climb.

However even on this home made device the curved spike would be useless, serrations  are far too small to hold in ice  Seems to be a cross hole for a strap, but at wrong end and too small.

Does the pick foldaway by a screw lock at the top, or is that where a lanyard could be attached?

i go for a geological tool to dig out rock samples

It could be a tactical version of halligan tool also known as a hooligan tool which was used by fireman.

I vote aircraft.   Looks like an expensively made lightweight short pry bar with no provision for a carrying strap – not portable up mountains.  Robert suggests an escape tool for use on sliding canopies; I’m thinking cargo planes for adjusting pallets and strapped down loads.

A naval friend had a “fun” experience many years ago.  Taken ill in Gan, he was flown back to the UK for surgery in considerable pain, getting worse as time passed.  When the plane got to Cyprus it circled the island for over an hour, no explanation, presumably burning off fuel.   Then the crew appeared with a toolbox and his group were made to sit in the aisle.

The crew unbolted seats to lift a section of floor so the could try and wind the jambed undercarriage down manually.  They took turns to heave on it, unsuccessfully at first.  Though they eventually got the wheels down, all the passengers were fully expecting to die in a crash-landing.  Toughs wept whilst writing their wills and farewells etc.   My friend reckoned he was the bravest man present – in so much pain that he welcomed death.

Maybe a small pry bar was used to lift the floor-plate.

Dave