I was going to suggest it was some kind of gardening tool due to its proximity to what appears to be a garden bed, but was stumped on what exactly you would use it for. This seems like a good theory, but is it useful without a sharp base like the one on your example pic? I guess you could attach a metal bit when you need to, but I don’t see evidence of the kind of wear that implies that on the pic. Maybe it’s only used in very soft gardening soil, but it looks like a nicely made, older one, so you’d think then that there would be a need for some kind of spike if you’re just going to town in your yard instead of using store-bought soil.

Maybe I’m overthinking it.