Japanese Forging Hammers

Daniel Prentice

Daniel Prentice

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Apr 13, 2005
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Hello

I am now making sawmaker's hammers or aka Japanese forging hammers.

This is a sawmaker's hammer that I made from 4140 tool steel The hammer head is 1 3/4 inches round. The length of the head is 5 3/4 inches. Handle length is 11 1/8 inches long. Head weight is appx 3 lbs. This is a japanese forging hammer as I know it. I have many more like this in production right now.



You will get one just like this there will be some deviation in measurements but it will be same design and same style hammer. It is being made now. I am also making a 2 lbs hammer also. Check my other auctions.

The hammer is heat treated by quenching in water at non magnetic and tempering 3 times at 400 degrees.

After using many different types of hammers I have almost went entirely over to this style of hammer. I feel that this type of hammer gives better form and more reliable strikes for the style of hammering that I do. I have a martial arts background and used swords and other weapons and this weight proportion feels like a sword to me.

If any questions please don't hesitate to ask....at dpcustomknives.com........

All sales are final. Shipping in USA only and ships USPS Flat Rate with insurance.


pictures on my ebay auction http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=200186785776&ssPageName=STRK:MESE:IT&ih=010
 
The hammer is heat treated by quenching in water at non magnetic and tempering 3 times at 400 degrees. The hammer is differentially heat treated which means only the striking surface is hard to an inch up the spine. Leaving the rest of the head softer. Similar to Swords....or the better ones..... Once I used these hammers I chose not to use any others. I am considering making some top fullers in this design also to MOVE METAL FASTER. Email me if interested in these. Thanks for your time.
 
Could you talk a little about that handle design? Specifically the "twist" shown in the third picture. Assuming a right-handed user, it seems like it would require you to break the wrist to the outside to strike a flat blow. Am I missing something? Thanks.

rmd
 
This one shown does break allowing for a right handed swing. In my opinion, from using a kama for years the elbow does have more tendancy to go "around" the waist when swinging/striking low unless you rotate your hip. This hammer was actually made for me and most of the hammers do not have a slight twist.

The action of these types of hammers are like wielding a sword and not an axe. The weight distribution is forward and centered like a sword and feels more like such to me than a hammer. Took me a little bit to get used to the "feel" and now I prefer nothing but. That is why I have recently gotten into making them. It is hard to always get what you want. I have been a fan of the swedish hammers. These sawmaker's hammers seem to wear me out less per blow than the swedish hammers or the traditional cross peins.

I hope this answers your questions. Hammers are like shoes....just got to find what fits you the best.
 
cost is $60 for @3LB head $50 for 2LB head $70 for 4LB head. Prices for 1 3/4 round face.

Shipping is flat $10. Will take paypal
 
pics. sorry for the delay in posting them guys and gals
 

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do still have some of these for sale.
 
I bought a 2 pounder, I think it's the bottom one in that picture of the three, shipping was prompt, I've only used it for a couple hours so far but it seems real nice, of course the first thing I did was ding my anvil with it, it's a bit different aim than a normal hammer but after a while it was a very natural tool to use. I like it much better than my other 2 pounder, it seems to move more steel and is less tiring to use. I need to get a bigger one!
 
im thinking about getting a 3lb as my 4lb is a workout :D
 
I am in the process of making more now. just shoot me an email and will finish what you want. To me the largest one I use is a 4 1/2 lb. but to me swings like a 3 lb swedish I have. Thanks for the comment up there!!!!

Daniel
 
what would you sajest for basic forging and maybe some damascus welding. right now i have a 4 LB home depot cross pean thats seams to be more work than it should be. im thinking 3 - 3.5 lb but not shure. im just getting back into forging because i wanted to be a real knife maker :D
 
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