smithing hammer

S

SShepherd

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Nov 23, 2003
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Can anyone point me in the direction that I can find a Japanese smithing hammer ? I'm having no luck :(


Sean
 
I think Kayne and son or Centaur carries the japanese style hammers.

Look a litte harder. I know I have seen them somewhere, but can't remember where. For that matter, take a look at a picture, and get some steel and make one.....


Doc
 
You could email Sinichi Watanabe to see if he could find & mail you a Japanese smithing hammer. He is a most personable young man, who just happens to make incredible blades. His English is good. Check out his website for contact info: http://watanabeblade.com/english/
 
that severe "weight forward" style of hammer you see Japanese swordsmith's use??? the handle hole is way aft of center??, and the head tapers out form there toward the face? I've looked on ebay for a long time for one of those. I've bought several hammers on ebay and have found some good users including several old Athertons hammers. Truth is though, my most favored (and also the fav of several MS's) is a simple ball peen; a 2, a 2.5 and a 3lb.er. Also I've a french made,VERY square 4 ro 4.5 lb.er I got from Centaur for 40 bucks and has turned out to be a great heavy forging hammer. ALL however,.... READ EVERY hammer I've ever found useful, I had to re-shape, re-dress in some way or another.

mitch
 
BTW, a hammer that somewhat resembles a JPZ forging hammer is domestically called a sawmaker's hammer and/or a variation of a cutler's hammer.
 
"that severe "weight forward" style of hammer you see Japanese swordsmith's use??? the handle hole is way aft of center??, and the head tapers out form there toward the face? "


You know what those are? They are the head of an appropriately sized sledge hammer with the rear cut off. In some pictures I have seen it's obvious, and in others is isn't, but that's the deal.

Dicks in Germany has that type of hammer, with a specialy curved handle, but that's for tourists, and the sizes they carry would be a little small for any but the lightest cutlery.

Chuck Robinson of the make your own anvil video fame, makes these hammers too, his a styalized to my way of thinking, and are fat at the hitting end, and thin at the eye. Makes sense, but it isn't really the way the Japanese do it. Chuck wanted to make a hammer video, but I'm not sure there is enough demand. SO:

robi5515@bellsouth.net
 
yep... cross pein or a ball pein hammer are all weight forward hammers/

I collected "old Blacskmith" photos for years, most of those pics had a smith with a ball pein hammer in his hand, cross pein was next on the list and an engineers hammer was next after that
 
Here is the marketing department at Dick's in full throtle, they now have a 3 pounder.

http://www.dick.biz/cgi-bin/dick.storefront/41c0b03e0028db3c273f50f33609061b/Product/View/714017


I'm a huge believer in Japanese tools and swords and stuff, but the smiths do more with less than anyone I know. I have seen the lighter version of these hammers, and they aren't even forge welded just simple hardened steel heads. Just like a sledge hammer which starts out square at the eye, and progresses to a round impact end. Nice to have, but as a metal head you might end up asking yourself why you spent 120 for it by the time it arrives.
 
FYI, a Fiorini-style hammer, 600grams: I plan on redoing the handle to get a gentle curve in it, but otherwise I very much like the way it strikes. Isn't as smoothly finished as storebought varieties, but a nice hammer for my arthritic wrist.
 
fitzo said:
FYI, a Fiorini-style hammer, 600grams: I plan on redoing the handle to get a gentle curve in it, but otherwise I very much like the way it strikes. Isn't as smoothly finished as storebought varieties, but a nice hammer for my arthritic wrist.
Click to expand...
Fitzo, I like that hammer !
I have a number of other hammers....the one I "used" most was a 3lb crosspeen that says N.Y.C.S. on the side. I've been grinding for a few years
and I think it's time to beat down the pile of 1095 I've got :D I have a 7lb german straightpeen....it's a bit hard to use with 1 hand ;) I like the weight foreward idea and want to try it.
 
I have one of Bill's hammers as well. After you've spent two weeks searching around the internet for the various terms used, you find the Bill is the only one that comes up. It's worth the $90, at least to me.

Darryl
 
At my blacksmith group. Saltfork Craftsmen A lotta of smiths make their own hammers.

It's not to difficult and they certainly looked better than Dicks.biz

Sometimes we forget we are toolmakers. :D :D :D
 
Here's a couple hammer's I made 2 years ago. Both were hand forged from 1 3/8" 60 grade rebar. The bottom one was the first one I made and still the favorite of the 3 that I made.
PDRM0354.JPG
 
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