Enlighten me please

[edbear2]

Whatever it is, it's a serious bit of swaging / forming / upsetting that has been tooled up for, 100% not a home done job or accident I would personally say , just strange that no-one on here has any knowledge of what it is, maybe try some other forums as well?

Thr initial diameter of the end bit looks larger than the barrel diameter, so the blank would not have been just a straight tube from the photos.

It would be anti-slip and also allow air to escape sideways, so the humane dispatch idea makes sense too.

I have had old Accles "cash" dispatch guns where the end is serrated for grip, nothing like this, but the same function in effect I would imagine.

Any chance of some bigger / clearer pics Pete please?.......especially of what look like splits in the splayed parts.

ATB, ED