Biggin

Thanks for the words of wisdom, I've been weighing out my options and I've come to a conclusion.  I have a good understanding of splitting metal, I've attempted hatchets out of RR spikes that didn't turn out awful, tried out an overkill nail with a head about the same size as this hammerhead.....with some practice I think I could get the basic design roughed in, however, I think I'll just keep practicing the basics for now. What've been making has been getting a little monotonous, and I was wanting to try something a little different.  Instead I'll just browse the forums some more and come up with some better (easier) ideas.

Biggin for sure you can forge a  piece just like this one or maybe even better, However most begginers have not developed body mechanics, forging skills, knowledge on selecting materials, workin methods of properly heat treating a tool like this or how to fit and finish the materials when ready to assemble. And all of this will need at least the bare minimum of shop set up. Forge, anvil hammers tongs, and hand tools to match the task.

The good news is that this forum has all of the information you can learn from to get you started on ta long term program to make this happen.

Just reading through this forum you posted in will show you by reading post from new folks and seeing how they progress over time.

Enjoy! And welcome to a new world.

I've got the tools, I've been practicing every chance I get with a variety of alloys and different sizes of stock.  I've made several simple items, fire pokers, letter openers, RR spike knives, etc.  But this is a more complicated task than any of the others that I've just made as I went.  What I'm sayin is, I haven't started with a pattern and tried to copy it, I've just went where the metal has taken me.  I'm not close to any of the guilds listed on this website, so it's mostly just reading and then trial and error via the hammer for me.  

Yep that is what they were . and now they are Zombie tools LOL ;)

Zombie Tool is exactly what I thought when I first saw this!!!! But it's cool to know the history of the tool too.  

I'm not really sure what you call this hybrid, but I'd like to try to forge one soon.  Any suggestions on what to use, or tips on how to do it.  The dimensions are approx 6" from hammer head to ax edge and about 7 1/2 from claw ends to handle.

Howdy everybody.  I'm 30 years old and from southwest Virginia. I'm new to IFI and to blacksmithing.  I've found a lot of great info on here and I hope to find some local smiths willing to show me a few tricks.  If anyone is near SW Va let me know and maybe we can meet up sometime.