Unusual chisel question

[Ken Werner]

I just bought this James Swan chisel. What seems odd to me is that there is an arch across the top of it, and that the cutting edge ends also with an arch. Any ideas what this really is? It looks like a mortising chisel to me, from the configuration, thickness and length of the blade, but the arch...hmmm. Any help would be appreciated.
Ken

[Jim Becker]

The arch across the top makes sense...especially if the piece is forged. The arch under the business end, however...I suspect is from "sharpening"...

[David DeCristoforo]

Is it an unusual chisel or an unusual question? Anyway, either what Jim said or someone used the chisel for a prybar.....

[Andy Hoyt]

Kinda sorta looks like a spoon gouge that may have been mongrelized for a specific purpose. Of course, this presumes a certain wattage between the ears of the mongrelizer.

[Rick Whitehead]

Maybe someone reground it and used it as a round-nose chisel for turning.
I've bought several chisels over the years that have been reground similarily.
Rick

[Roger Bell]

Your pix are not that clear to me. However........

Jas. Swan made "oval backed" chisels in widths as narrow as 1/4, as well as oval backed slicks as wide as 4".