What is this type of hammer called? 

My guess would be a fencing hammer for driving and pulling staples. That is assuming there is only a single claw on the back. I can't tell for sure from the picture.

If it has 2 claws it could be a farriers hammer.

I'm thinking it's one of these, but I'm not sure if it matches, and I have no idea what a pole driving hammer is for....

lol at rusty....pole driving....you kill me.

Stanley, that is a farrier's hammer. The pole referred to is the part forward of the eye, with the hammer face. Note the square pole one in rusty's photo.

I've also heard them called duckshead farrier hammers, as they somewhat resemble the profile of a ducks head, especially the older ones.

The poll is the broad end or face of a hammer.

I've never seen it spelled "pole" before; always "poll" like Papaw above...

Quote from: lbgradwell on December 11, 2011, 11:57:06 PM
I've never seen it spelled "pole" before; always "poll" like Papaw above...

Ditto.  This is a farrier's hammer, used for driving the nails that hold the shoe to the hoof.  There are quite a few variations in style, but regardless, the hammer is distinctive.

More pictures.  Internet at home was squirrelly yesterday.  Now I need to come up with a handle.
I need a ScottG class in handle making!!!

   Jim

pole...poll...yeash...

Here I was wondering why you needed a different hammer for square poles.....

I forget sometimes that spelling in old catalogs was somewhat arbitrary...

Stop over tomorrow afternoon??
We can carve up a custom handle you will be proud of, and you'll have a good start on a skill for life.
yours Scott

Well Scott, If Happy Camp were near Mission Viejo CA,  I would certainly take you up on that .  Looks like I'll have to wing it on my own.

  Jim

Some farrier supply outfits, like Centaur Forge, may carrier handles to fit that particular hammer, Stanley....just an FYI.

Cool.  Thanks.

 Whattya mean, Mission Viej-hole is where my wife is from.
   I lived at the other end of Laguna Canyon (El Toro at your end) road, empty miles of it,
  and down coast highway 4 miles. (Laguna was pretty small and 1/3 of the distance was open country).
   
At Victoria Beach, for a time.  Unbelievable view of Catalina and the whole cove from 1/2 the rooms in the 90 year old ornate Victorian home, which was just a quiet forgotten neighborhood of old ladies from a bygone time.  I paid 20 a week rent, in cash, precisely at 5:00 friday evening, but that included meals and laundry.
  I better not be late for dinner though.  Nana, my friend's grandmother and an otherwise darling woman, would bite if you were late!!

    [OK I lived in 3 or 4 different Laguna pads, San Clemente (in the old mostly abandoned downtown Hotel San Clemente), Capo Beach and the edge of Newport too.
Spent considerable time with good friends in Dana Point and So Laguna as well.

  There were open uninhabited miles between Laguna and Newport (not counting Corona Del Mar, just a few lonely houses and nothing else), open miles between Laguna and Dana Point, more miles to San Clemente.
  So. Laguna was a quaint mostly empty cafe and a tiny neighborhood grocery store.  Laguna Niguel was nothing, not invented.  But Capo Beach was always there up on the hilltop. ]

Simple for you. Noplace to get lost..........
Get on hwy 5 north, turn left at Yreka,
  70 miles downriver (hwy 96) to Camp. 
thats it

I have done it 100 times.
I'm in the book.
  yours Scott