Posted 10 years ago
Naadomail
(2 items)
Found in an old welding shop in Texas. 7 inches long, square face is 1.5" across. Weight is approximated at 7 lbs. Does anyone know what the markings mean? Is it a flatter hammer? Handle is not original.
Anyone?
The aforementioned hammer was indeed a regular striking hammer used by smiths, perhaps originally a horizontal or vertical cutting wedge opposite the striking side. This side was later heated and formed/struck into an unusual diamond/square shape end that broadens from the hammer's center to the extended flat diamond. Ostensibly the broad strike side would have received a blow, while the unique flat diamond end would have been used to impact heated metal to carry this diamond shape. This may have been used to hit softer metals after heating, such as brass, copper, etc. What remains most unique on this hammer is not only its unique diamond end, but, the stamp mark on the surface of the head itself, marked on two sides, potentially with the same personal mark of a specific smith or maker. I've seen only one similar to this before, which had a truly unique masonic "square and compass" struck into the head while it was hot. Your hammer is a unique and great piece, only more time and a little scratching of Texas history might bring more clarity. Good luck and blessings to the Great State of Texas!