YES! I am the Google Queen! Combined your generous hints and I found the tool! But I'll keep "tyst" about it. I love to hike trails too, and it's too bad more people don't keep them clear but you know, you have to be careful.

LOVED your post! Laughed the whole way thru (I think a little coffee came out my nose). You have me beat by a mile but I love to collect "stuff" too....in fact, I haven't been out on a "treasure hunt" for a while and now I have the urge. Most of my garden decoration is found items.Right now I'm on the look out for bricks and some sort of big bowl shaped thingy.

Too bad you don't live near me. I happen to have a big bowl thingie and tons of bricks. I could ship the big bowl thingie to you for cost of postage but the bricks...well, I'm keeping those.

Thanks for keeping tyst. It is much appreciated.

Way back when the Harry Potter books first came out, lots of people were complaining about how the books were filling the heads of our young people with a lot of hogwash and nonsense. All I saw was that the young people of the world actually started reading books with a vengeance. I wonder if blog posts such as this one might have a similar (albeit smaller) result to get people to stop automatically asking "What is it?" and start doing their own research.

EVERYBODY needs to stretch their minds. Too much spoonfed fast food from the TV and YouTube. Wish we ALL lived closer; it would be so great to have gardeners dropping by for coffee or tea!

I received a TreeMail with a guess about the tool.
Let's see if anyone else can identify the tool.

Interest had died down so now is a good time for LysmachiaMoon to reveal her answer...in English or in Swedish.

I must say, I've been having fun using this tool out in the back. It works really well but dang, there's no one to pick up the mess it creates.

TA-DA! The mystery tool is a Swedish brush cutter. It's designed to have a very sharp blade, but because the blade is mounted in that c-shaped holder, it's a lot safer to use than having a more exposed blade (like in a scythe).

Yes! Correct. If there were prizes, you'd be the winner!

Somehow facial tissues are called by the brand name Kleenex. So it is with the Swedish brush axe or clearing axe. People ask for a Sandvik no matter which brand they have. (Of course, Wetterlings and Haglof would like to change that.)

I got mine for free but honestly, for the small price, this is a great tool to use in the 'wild' parts of your property. (I'm not selling anything; just excited when I learn new things.)

One place to purchase:
https://surveyingsupplies.com/...

Here is a super-short video showing how to replace the blade.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?...

Video with sales pitch:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?...

Here is a bit of chit-chat:
https://bushcraftusa.com/forum...

I'm a bit leery. My husband bought me a small brush cutter that you swing like a golf club. I am the most uncoordinated person on the planet (chew gum and walk at the same time...? Forget it). I took it out, one whack, hit myself in the ankle, nicked a nerve, foot went numb, ankle swelled up like a balloon.... The golf club cutter rusts quietly in the shed.