1890s patent date antigue cast iron claw hooks, vintage rake tool or farm equipment hardware rusty primitive

Pair of fist sized claws or rakes, antique cast iron with 1890s patent date. These came out of a collection of useful 'junk' saved in a dairy barn for over a hundred years - I have no idea what their original purpose was. Maybe a grabber of some sort? Or a garden cultivator?

They have a beautiful rusty, crusty patina just as they are. And the interesting shape with the three cupped fingers seems to be begging for an interesting upcycle of some kind!