Another old found tool (Straight Pein Sledge Hammer??)

[Deoje]

In the group of tools that my mother found in my grandfathers shed was this hammer. It appears to be a straight pein hammer. It has had the crap beat out of it. The flat face is a complete mushroom. There are no markings on it other than a "3" stamped on one side of the head. I'm guessing that is the weight.

The handle does not have a wedge. The head is simply friction fit to the handle. I have not ever messed with this type of hammer so I have no idea if it should be wedged or not. The eye is slightly larger at the top of the head than it is at the bottom that leads me to think it should be wedged. The head is so beat up that the difference in eye size may be due to damage. Any ideas or direction on whether or not it needs a wedge would be appreciated.

Below are some pictures of the hammer before and after. I used a wire brush in an angle grinder to take off the rust. I don't think I will grind off the mushrooming unless there is a compelling reason to do so. I will oil the handle with BLO and mineral spirits, but I want to decide if I need to wedge first.

 

[A Visitor]

Looks like a hot cutter rather than a hammer. Handle isnt that important- only holding the head against the item being cut and struck with another hammer, not swung overhead.
Cleaning up the mushroom is a safety issue. Those pieces rolled over will come off eventually when hit.

 

[Wil D.]

That's a cool old splitter. Personally I'd clean it up then turn it into a wallhanger. But if you plan to use it clean the mushroom up, flying pieces of metal to the eye aren't fun.

 

[garry3]

Like a Visitor said. It is called a hot set. Blacksmith tool. More than likely it was a 3" cut at one time.

 

[Deoje]

OK thanks. I thought about it being a blacksmith tool but he didn't do anything like that so I thought it must be a type of hammer.

I'll clean up the mushroom. I don't plan on using it but you never know. The metal is quite soft.

 

[FortyTwoBlades]

Yup! As others have mentioned it's definitely a hot cutter, albeit a very heavily worn one.

 

[Deoje]

I'm guessing he used it as a sledge hammer. That is probably why it's so worn.

 

[halfaxe]

I wouldn't bother cleaning up the mushroom. They were made to mushroom as a hammer was used to pound on the flat end while holding the cutting end against the piece to be cut or formed.