Ah, searching Ebay does indeed produce good results. It looks like a lot of manufacturers sell their cutoff scrap, much of it good steel in bar form. 

I like it - thanks for the tip!

On 11/2/2017 at 7:30 PM, Cavpilot2k said:

Yes, but where do you get it?

SpeedyMetals.com has 1045 in 2" square, 24" = $61.78;  also 4140 cold rolled 24" = $76.75 or de-carb free 24" = $96.92

I used Arlo Steel and Peerless steel to get 8' lengths hammer material

 

 

I use metal distributors (i believe they are a chain as there are 3 or 4 within 2 hoirs of me)   i get 1/2" x 2" 1095 for $6 a foot 304stainless at 3.50 a foot 

The hammer makers I know buy round bar and convert it to the sizes they need. Nathan Robertson has made something like 5500 hammers this way.