War Hammer?

mgolab · 24th April 2024, 01:34 PM

I would appreciate any comments on this piece that I own. Came from Haverfordwest, UK. Hand forged. Iron.

head is 8 inches, weight of head is 2Ibs.

I added the haft.

Thank you

Interested Party · 24th April 2024, 06:23 PM

Would a war hammer need a hardened face welded to the body of the hammer? Picture #2 one can make out the weld line.

Victrix · 24th April 2024, 07:27 PM

Interested Party · 25th April 2024, 05:47 PM

At 2 lb, a kilo, I do not believe it is a cobblers hammer, but some sort of machinist/smiths hammer would make sense to me.

Victrix · 25th April 2024, 07:44 PM

If necessary it would obviously make a ferocious weapon. I think we suggested in earlier discussions that the presence of langets might make objects more likely weapons of some sort.

fernando · 26th April 2024, 10:42 AM

Given that, as it goes, this is not an intended weapon, let us move this thread to the Miscellania Forum ... and see what further comments show up.

drac2k · 28th April 2024, 06:56 PM

Maybe an antique slater's hammer?

A. G. Maisey · 29th April 2024, 01:01 AM

This hammer looks pretty similar to a hammer owned by a fencer I used to know. He had it made by the local smith --- this was 1950's, when we still had smiths in country towns.

He put up rural fencing, the spike end was used like a carpenters center punch, ie, to provide a location hole for a nail to be driven or drilled.

The fencer put up rural fencing using Australian hardwood bush timber, he was driving relatively large steel spikes.

CutlassCollector · 29th April 2024, 10:37 AM

I had a look through Salaman's woodworking tools and there are pages and pages of different hammers!

A bit like axes there are not many uses for a spike on the reverse of a hammer - mining perhaps and weapons of course.

However, there is a fairly close match to a Ship Maul used by shipwrights to hammer in the trenails (wooden pins) and large nails during shipbuilding. The tool would then be reversed and the spike used to hammer the pins/nails below the surface of the wood to allow trimming to shape afterwards.

They came in many sizes between 1 1/2 to 8 lbs with handles up to 2' 9".

C4RL · 29th April 2024, 01:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CutlassCollector

there are not many uses for a spike on the reverse of a hammer - mining perhaps

Stone mason's.
Geologist's.
Panel beater's.
Welders slag.
Blacksmith's hot punch.
Piton (climbers).

That's just from memory without Googling.
While I agree spiked hammers aren't common there are still plenty of trades use/used them, many obscure & now forgotten.

Sajen · 2nd May 2024, 06:15 PM

Hello Mgolab,

Allow me to ask, how did you de-rust the hammer head and finish its surface?

Regards,
Detlef

mgolab · Yesterday, 11:34 AM

Hello: I purchased it in that manner.

24th April 2024, 01:34 PM	#1
mgolab Member Join Date: Jun 2023 Posts: 37	War Hammer? I would appreciate any comments on this piece that I own. Came from Haverfordwest, UK. Hand forged. Iron. head is 8 inches, weight of head is 2Ibs. I added the haft. Thank you Attached Images

24th April 2024, 07:27 PM	#3
Victrix Member Join Date: Apr 2017 Location: Sweden Posts: 680	Attached Images

24th April 2024, 06:23 PM	#2
Interested Party Member Join Date: Dec 2019 Location: Eastern Sierra Posts: 388	Would a war hammer need a hardened face welded to the body of the hammer? Picture #2 one can make out the weld line.

25th April 2024, 05:47 PM	#4
Interested Party Member Join Date: Dec 2019 Location: Eastern Sierra Posts: 388	At 2 lb, a kilo, I do not believe it is a cobblers hammer, but some sort of machinist/smiths hammer would make sense to me.

25th April 2024, 07:44 PM	#5
Victrix Member Join Date: Apr 2017 Location: Sweden Posts: 680	If necessary it would obviously make a ferocious weapon. I think we suggested in earlier discussions that the presence of langets might make objects more likely weapons of some sort.

26th April 2024, 10:42 AM	#6
fernando Lead Moderator European Armoury Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Portugal Posts: 9,642	Given that, as it goes, this is not an intended weapon, let us move this thread to the Miscellania Forum ... and see what further comments show up.

28th April 2024, 06:56 PM	#7
drac2k Member Join Date: Jun 2013 Posts: 1,184	Maybe an antique slater's hammer?

29th April 2024, 01:01 AM	#8
A. G. Maisey Member Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 6,708	This hammer looks pretty similar to a hammer owned by a fencer I used to know. He had it made by the local smith --- this was 1950's, when we still had smiths in country towns. He put up rural fencing, the spike end was used like a carpenters center punch, ie, to provide a location hole for a nail to be driven or drilled. The fencer put up rural fencing using Australian hardwood bush timber, he was driving relatively large steel spikes.

29th April 2024, 10:37 AM	#9
CutlassCollector Member Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: Scotland Posts: 322	I had a look through Salaman's woodworking tools and there are pages and pages of different hammers! A bit like axes there are not many uses for a spike on the reverse of a hammer - mining perhaps and weapons of course. However, there is a fairly close match to a Ship Maul used by shipwrights to hammer in the trenails (wooden pins) and large nails during shipbuilding. The tool would then be reversed and the spike used to hammer the pins/nails below the surface of the wood to allow trimming to shape afterwards. They came in many sizes between 1 1/2 to 8 lbs with handles up to 2' 9".

2nd May 2024, 06:15 PM	#11
Sajen Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Germany, Dortmund Posts: 8,515	Hello Mgolab, Allow me to ask, how did you de-rust the hammer head and finish its surface? Regards, Detlef

Yesterday, 11:34 AM	#12
mgolab Member Join Date: Jun 2023 Posts: 37	Hello: I purchased it in that manner.