Hammer?

[swervncarz]

Can anyone tell me what kind of hammer I have here? Is it missing something?

[bill300d]

It's a soft face hammer. Probably had rawhide inserts in it. You may still be able to find inserts to fit it.

[swervncarz]

Thank you... I thought that too but didn't see how the inserts would stay in... I assumed they screw in

[bill300d]

I would guess that they clamp in with that big nut on the bottom on the head. You could even make copper, brass, or plastic heads for it too without much trouble.

[oldgoaly]

if you have  lathe it easy to turn some hdpe or uhmw plastics

[Bill Houghton]

I've had the impression that Garland Hammer Company (http://www.garlandmfg.com/mallets/split.html) originated this design.  They are, anyway, still in business.  You can get new faces directly from them at the site I listed, or go on Amazon or suchlike places.  Lots of choices.

I have a couple of these in different sizes.  I use the small one regularly as a chisel mallet, even though the plastic heads are nearly worn out.  I like the combination of weight and soft face.

The larger one has been on the sick list since I got it, because some past fool had used the side of the head to bash on things, and the casting got distorted there; yet another project on the multi-page list.  Make sure the two parts meet pretty well along their length (looks like you need a little filing on the ends, on the side in your pictures), and the nut tightens up properly.

Yours is not a Garland - they're proud of their hammers, and the name is prominent on the heads - but if the size is consistent with Garland's, their inserts should work.