I have used rounding hammers of various styles as my main method of moving metal for some time. Most of what I have are of the old farrier style and some I've made myself in varying weights.  I have looked at Brian Brazeal's excellent hammers and Nathan Robertson's also, but Brent Bailey's web page and his artistic forms of hammers have kept me wondering if they are really as beautiful and useful as they look in the pictures. I recently decided I really needed a 4lb hammer so after some consideration I called Brent and asked if he could modify his large octagon hammer and put a rounding face on one end. After only one week a truly marvelous tool showed up. I've now used it for about a week and it works at least as good as it looks. If you are considering a new hammer purchase you might want to take a look at Brent's tools.

I might add that they are extremely reasonably priced for the quality you get. 

 

http://www.brentbaileyforge.com/

 

Well you get pretty good at something having made ten  thousand or so,   I love Brents tools (and I like Brent an awful lot too)   every time I pick one up it makes me happy...

If Im not mistaken he uses Atlantic 33 to make his hammers with, dosnt he? He sure makes beautiful tools..Some of the very nicest looking tools out there..

I've got one of his flatters and a 12lb sledge..  Both phenomenal, and he's a super easy guy to work with.  

I have three of Brent's hammers and love them all. Great quality and workmanship.

I have a Brazeal style on order and hope it is as useable as Brent's.

Dave

I dont think he makes hammers out of Atlantic generally although he is a big lover of the stuff...

When he demonstrated at the NWBA conference, he said he likes to make the hammers from 3" diameter x 1" chunks of S7.