Hi , can anyone tell me what this hammer is designed for and what is the purpose of the small hole in the head of the hammer and also the half moon notch ?
Thanks

I presume (since you're asking) that it's not marked anywhere.   Steel?  Brass? 

BTW - welcome to Papaw's Tool Talk.   Lots of good folks here and someone may have seen one of those before.

The hammer is steel and is approx 8.5 inches in height with a 4.5 inch square head and flat striking surface.

shop project reject?

Anything is possible but this very well made and does not appear to be a "Home Shop project" the picture may not convey the details etc.

Two ideas. might not be a hammer , maybe a gauge tool with fancy handle.
Or , the " Head " was made from a scrap piece with the holes in it?

Hammers were a popular machine shop class project.

I have seen some very nice ones

please consider this possibility

either way its a cool tool

Skip

Hello, Ngarrett2. Welcome to Tool Talk from Central New York State!!! I agree that the hammer is probably shop made, and it also appears to be well made. Previous owner may have had a use for that notch, or that hole, we may never know. The fun part (at least to me) of finding these shop made tools, is admiring the handiwork and the story behind them. Regards, Lou

The head is magnetic?

The head it self is not magnetized.  But a magnet does stick to it.

Hello, Ngarrett2. The pictures are deceiving, the material looks like brass. So it's some type of steel, which makes the most sense for a School, or, Machine Shop, made hammer. Regards, Lou