SilverDeck Posted July 23, 2013 Share Posted July 23, 2013 I recently ran across this Heller hammer in an antique store and bought it to use. The wood handle was severely cracked, so I spent some time hand-fitting a replacement hickory handle. I'm having a really tough time finding information on the internet about his type of hammer. I've seen it labeled as a "Cat's head" hammer, a "turning hammer", and a "fitting hammer" - all of which seem to be related to farrier uses. The head weighs right at 28 oz (1 3/4 lbs). The markings, although somewhat beat up, say "Heller" above and image of a horse and "Bros. Co." below. Anyone here know more about these types of hammers. I'd love to learn more about it. Are they at all unusual? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frank Turley Posted July 23, 2013 Share Posted July 23, 2013 It's a horseshoers' cross peen. The old catalogs may call it a turning or fitting hammer, because horseshoes were "turned," meaning that they were forged; it's a vernacular. It's not a cat's head. Occasionally, a toe calk, after welding, needed to be thinned and/or tapered, so the peen was used for that. I think one of my old catalogs called this hammer a "lineman's hammer," meaning like the Wichita lineman. I see that such a hammer could be used for any light blacksmithing work. Sayings and Cornpone " On the way to the fishin' hole, we'd mark every road kill we drove past. On the way home, anything that wasn't marked was fresh meat!" Buddy Leonard, Covington, Louisiana Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SilverDeck Posted July 23, 2013 Author Share Posted July 23, 2013 Appreciate the information and comments, Frank. I also found this 1905 Heller ad in American Blacksmith featuring a very similar hammer. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
neg Posted July 23, 2013 Share Posted July 23, 2013 I have one just like it that I got at a flea market for $6. It's my absolute favorite hammer. I've seen them pop up on ebay and every time they've sold for around $90. I pound out the basic shape with my 4lb cross peen, then I finish it up with this one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SilverDeck Posted July 23, 2013 Author Share Posted July 23, 2013 I have one just like it that I got at a flea market for $6. It's my absolute favorite hammer. I've seen them pop up on ebay and every time they've sold for around $90. This one was a similar bargain. I think the dealer was asking $4 and it was 25% off so I ended up paying $3. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dan P. Posted August 1, 2013 Share Posted August 1, 2013 I've seen clips drawn (or attempted to be drawn!) using the cross pein of a rounding hammer. Thus, also sometimes called a "clipping hammer". Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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