Well, let me start by saying I don't know much about smithing.  I have some tools, but I'm lucky if I don't catch myself on fire (at least most of the time).  I found this hunk of iron last week for a buck and have a couple of questions: what's the correct length and shape of handle for this and is it a dog-head hammer?  Sorry for the poor photo. Thanks for any info.


By stormking3 at 2012-05-03

Probably is, it matches some of these-
https://www.google.com/search?q=dog-head+hammer&hl=en&client=firefox-a&hs=DAr&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&prmd=imvns&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ei=_GKjT4KQEILY2AW5sKyABA&ved=0CGIQsAQ&biw=1579&bih=707

You are very fast. Thanks Papaw

I've seen hammers like this listed as being used for straightening/tuning saw blades for sawmills.

Found this in the list that Papaw posted.

Image by whiteforge
Some times called doghead hammer, which were used to true or tune up a large saw blade. Cutlers hammer for the bladesmith.

That's a pretty cool find. Where did you happen across is?

Is the eye at an angle? 
In my experience, this is one of the most difficult hammers to find.  I found one over 25 years ago, and it's the only one I've found at tool swaps or flea markets.   It's pretty much the jewel of my blacksmith hammers.  As a blade smith hammer, it is used to pack the steel with fairly light taps.  It doesn't need a hefty handle.

These were also used in manufacturing the really big old circular saw blades.  If you have, or can find, a copy of volume 1 of the older Audel's Carpenters and Builders Guide (the editions published between 1929 and 1947)  there's a photograph on page 190 of one of these hammers being used at the Simmonds factory in the production of what looks to be a 5 foot diameter saw blade.  The part of the process is called "knocking down" in which the teeth are knocked down or straightened after they have been cut.

"The first operation in the manufacture of a circular saw is the drilling of the center hole.  After this the following operations are performed: Toothing, knocking down, hardening, tempering, smithing, stamping, grinding, polishing, etching, filling, and finally, inspecting..." (pg 190-191)

Thank you all for the info. Yes , the handle is at an angle when set just like the one John posted. This came from the estate of an old Blacksmith who was from Volin, South Dakota. He must have moved to the west coast about 1960. They did not advertise any of the tools that were in the basement so I got very lucky. In addition to the hammer I got a 1930's Foley saw filer, a 1930's Foley retoother, a very cool Prentiss carriage vise, 10 years worth of a Blacksmith magazine late 30's thru the late 40's and a bunch of small stuff. This hammer being a sawyers hammer makes alot of sense now. All of this is great stuff but what I really would have liked to find was a big anvil. I asked and was told the family kept it which is the way it should be.