Help!! Nobody at the Auction Could Identify This 🤔

I bought this item at an auction and still haven’t been able to get a confident identification. I’m posting it here to see if anyone recognizes it from real-world experience.

The object is approximately 48 inches long and weighs about 6 lb 11 oz. It is made of solid wood, very sturdy, with no flex. The center section features a riveted leather wrap measuring about 20.5 inches long, with longitudinal slits totaling roughly 11 inches. Padding exists only inside the slits, over solid wood. There are no moving parts, no metal attachments, and no visible markings or branding.

Both ends of the wood are tapered, and the leather shows wear consistent with real use rather than decoration.

If you’ve seen one of these before, worked in a trade where something similar was used, or recognize the design, I’d appreciate any genuine insight.