I'd second DOD's ID of the handle being for a straight edge razor and I'd second fyrffytr's ID of the briefcase latch/clasp. Obvi the knob and bracket that it is riveted to swivel allowing the top U-piece to separate. Not sure if there is a few fragments of fabric in the top picture along the sides or not, but it is fairly thin as well which means it can't be a latch for any wooden box. I can see the tiny tab at the piece's bottom next to the quarter in the last pic. Think of those oval pieces we've found that are two piece design having the 4 tabs around it. I think we determined those oval shaped pieces as old rain coat 'button' holes... Using the correlation of how it attached to the fabric for the coats as to the piece in question here.