Unknown tool, maybe a nail puller.

I'm posting this item because I think it looks similar to the one posted by Graydragon2 recently. This tool has a tubular steel handle and is about 30 inches long. The most obvious difference is the slot in the end which I first thought was for pulling nails but now I'm not sure. The end is probably too thick to slide under a nail head and the handle would be almost horizontal giving very little leverage. Now I wonder if it has some other purpose.