Please tell me this is a cheap piece of junk

[Abby Heller]

Since I passed this up, please tell me it's nothing. It looks pretty imperfect, so I kept walking. I didn't take a pic of the bottom, but it's flat and no mark. It's thick and heavy too.

[Mike Goulet]

looks like a coal shovel or bucket of some sort to me

[Richie Akins]

I believe these are referred to as a silk iron and are often brass underneath all that black. 

[Mike Goulet]

I stand corrected,   according to this link it's definately a silk iron, and methinks at 6 bucks you should have grabbed it

even if you didn't use it to iron silk, would make a way cool  gravy boat :)

http://www.antiqbuyer.com/All_Archives/IRONS_ARCHIVE/panirons.htm

[Abby Heller]

Funny, gravy boat was one of the many keywords I googled while trying to figure out what it is. I guess I can go back and look for it, although that rarely ends well for me. Thanks again for all the help!

[Abby Heller]

I went back and found my silk iron/gravy boat! Thanks again y'all.

[Jim Glatthaar]

Congratulations, Abby, a true find.  I'll bet you can't wait for the Thanksgiving gravy. ;)