Mystery Tool

Anyone have a clue what this is? It was made by the Sinclair Scott Co of Baltimore, whose most famous tool, as far as I can tell, is a hand-crank apple peeler. It has a curved, spring handle and a sharp blade with a rounded jaw on the other side. When fully closed, the blade sits slightly offset in the jaw and there's space under it, as if you'd draw something through (see third photo). Could it be for splitting stems? Stripping wire?