Gayle Brooks Posted May 15, 2010 Share Posted May 15, 2010 Before I go to squishing this hammer...is it a hammer? The one end has a slight tapering back, and it not really that well balanced. Am wondering if something attached to it. I got this to make a pipe hawk and just dont have the heart to do it. and I have always seen these. One shape or another. I have heard 2 stories: 1-was used to make star chisels. 2- was used for making wagon tires. This particular one was a pic of someones tool in our smithing group who was wondering as well. I have not seen one like this where it was tapered. Thanks! -Rory Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Timothy Miller Posted May 15, 2010 Share Posted May 15, 2010 That Ball peen is a hand made machinist chipping hammer for driving a cold chisel. I have one it was hand forged filed and trued up on a lathe. the peen has a flat on the tip that was used to rivet and work in tight spaces. These hammers are not that common. Keep it and enjoy it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HWooldridge Posted May 15, 2010 Share Posted May 15, 2010 The block was likely a bolster to support work that was being split or punched. I would also keep the ball peen and use it - there are plenty of newer ones with less character that can be converted to hawks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bentiron1946 Posted May 15, 2010 Share Posted May 15, 2010 That ball peen looks like the type that was made from around 1890 to 1910 and I'd say it's a keeper. Still not worth a lot of money but does show how far we have come down from making a nice looking product. There are a ton of newer ones out there than are not old and deserves to be converted to something better like a hawk. That other tool has me thinking that it could be used to put a point on a digging iron or some other instrument of destruction. :blink: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nakedanvil - Grant Sarver Posted May 16, 2010 Share Posted May 16, 2010 The bottom tool is certainly for working a star drill, usually with a matching top tool. When you have the two together it is more obvious. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Iron Clad Posted May 16, 2010 Share Posted May 16, 2010 The hammer really is very nice. I would keep it as is! You can buy ball pien hammers all day at second hand stores cheap... It's too bad modern tools don't have such character. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gayle Brooks Posted May 16, 2010 Author Share Posted May 16, 2010 Thanks for the replies! I thought it was old, but not that old! And Ill share the info with the guy about the tool for the star drill. Thanks Grant. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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