Sledge Hammers!

I guess this is more cutter than hammer but I'll put it here. This is more of my hand carved hickory.



 
Lieblad said:
A track chisel is longer more slender shape. That's an ordinary cold chisel.
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With a handle hole in it? Maybe Railroads weren't quite so discerning about appearance but rather what it was used for. Track chisel sounds perfectly good to me, especially with those particular stamps on it.
 
Yes a Railroad owned it.
They may own all manner of non track specific tools.
But based on its shape, its just a cold chisel.
 
Lieblad said:
A trackchisel is longer more slender shape. Thats an ordinary cold chisel.
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I know the mark and have had several of their tools, but I never considered it as a track chisel, it is far too small. This tool weighs 2lb 6oz including the 15" handle that I put on it. My assumption was that it was a standard blacksmith cutter, but I suppose that it could also be a cold chisel.

I just did some quick research and based on the edge angle being greater than 45 degrees, this is a cold chisel.
 
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jblyttle said:
I know the mark and have had several of their tools, but I never considered it as a track chisel, it is far too small. This tool weighs 2lb 6oz including the 15" handle that I put on it. My assumption was that it was a standard blacksmith cutter, but I suppose that it could also be a cold chisel.

I just did some quick research and based on the edge angle being greater than 45 degrees, this is a cold chisel.
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It may have been the phrase "Ordinary Cold Chisel" that caused consternation...nothing is "ordinary" on Blade Forum! It's all cool old stuff
made by skilled trades people whose knowledge and craftsmanship is becoming more and more admirable and missed with each passing year in our increasingly disposable society! ;)
 
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jblyttle said:
I know the mark and have had several of their tools................ This tool weighs 2lb 6oz including the 15" handle that I put on it.

I just did some quick research and based on the edge angle being greater than 45 degrees, this is a cold chisel.
Click to expand...

I'm supposing that my life-long definition of "cold chisel" is about to become altered. I've used many dozens of hand-held hammer-driven 'cold chisels' over the years but the largest only had a 7/8 inch shank.
The previous poster shows a lovely 'chisel-point hammer' (I'm deliberately fishing for descriptive words here since it's under 3 lb) and you can readily see (from the picture) what a huge ordeal it would be to try to retain cutting edge angles that came from the factory.
But I do have to ask: no one actually ever cleaved rails with a striking tool (that I know of) and these types were routinely used to sever spikes, track plates and couplings but what else were they used for?
 
I didn't realize it was so light. Lieblad is right. Blacksmith's cold set.

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300Six said:
I'm supposing that my life-long definition of "cold chisel" is about to become altered. I've used many dozens of hand-held hammer-driven 'cold chisels' over the years but the largest only had a 7/8 inch shank.
The previous poster shows a lovely 'chisel-point hammer' (I'm deliberately fishing for descriptive words here since it's under 3 lb) and you can readily see (from the picture) what a huge ordeal it would be to try to retain cutting edge angles that came from the factory.
But I do have to ask: no one actually ever cleaved rails with a striking tool (that I know of) and these types were routinely used to sever spikes, track plates and couplings but what else were they used for?
Click to expand...

My guess is that these were never used for work that heavy. It is likely that it is just a common tool that was needed. A railroad company has other needs than just working on the railroad. There is also normal construction etc., probably the yard crews had lots of tools for many needs.
 
jblyttle said:
My guess is that these were never used for work that heavy. It is likely that it is just a common tool that was needed. A railroad company has other needs than just working on the railroad. There is also normal construction etc., probably the yard crews had lots of tools for many needs.
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When you see all the nuts, bolts, rivets and iron work on those stinking dirty coal-fired old locomotives and know that the fire boxes, boilers and hundreds of pipe fittings wear/rust and burn out from constant use and vibration it's not hard to conjure up uses for a BFH with a pointy edge on one side and a flat face on the other.
 
Not to hijack, but quick question. I have a 10pound plumb sledge head, it's hourglass shaped in the eye. Has anyone ever seen this. It was difficult to hang, and my wedge bottomed out due to the shape (gap all around on top).

Thanks,
Mario
 
ttr125mar said:
Not to hijack, but quick question. I have a 10pound plumb sledge head, it's hourglass shaped in the eye. Has anyone ever seen this. It was difficult to hang, and my wedge bottomed out due to the shape (gap all around on top).

Thanks,
Mario
Click to expand...

The hourglasses eye is extremely common to sledges.
 
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