charlie belden
I think the Spindle Master is a Sorby tool. In cross section it's about 3/8ths of a circle. Flat top, fingernai-ish grind - it's neither fish nor fowl. From the bottom it looks sort of like a spindle gouge. From the top it looks like a scraper. From the side it looks like a squashed down a little spindle gouge. It is used like a mixture of spindle and a single bevel skew - a bedan. The lack of the long scary point that the skew has makes it seem less intimidating

Putting a curve on the traditional skew pulls the point back out of the way a bit - and makes it less intimidating - and easier to use.

From reading how others see and use the skew I guess I'm a Bumble Bee. Not knowing any better, I apparently use it differently than the conventional methods. I usually start a rolling cut with the long point - with it pointing down, the skew above center, cutting down and into the cut. A little roll and I'm on the bevel. As long as the long point doesn't get into the far side of the bead - no worries.

Where a curved edge skew excels is as a negative rake scraper - for tuning a profile.. The finial on the lid of this winged box was blended into the box lid with a small curved edge skew.