Could it possibly be a needle for a machine they use or used years ago in shoe making or repair?
I remember our shoeman having the neatest machines and needles in his little shop. After all these years, I can still see his smiling face. What a nice man he was.
Maybe it is a needle used in a handheld device for upholstering. Ever seen some of those needles they use? Yikes - longggggggggg and curveddddddddddd.