Big Cross Peen Hammer

[Jacobs976]

Posted this in general tools but I think it fits more in the vintage tools since I haven't seen any of these around beyond a 12lb that seems to take a standard sledge handle. Don't know how old it actually is but the lack of a big stamp saying china makes me think it's got some age.

Got this big hunk of metal today. No visible markings other than a 4 on the bottom where the weight is usually marked and some chicken scratch on the side. Assuming 14 pounds but I'll weight it once I find a scale that goes over 5 pounds. Now issue is I don't know anything about these. Like the proper handle for instance. I just tossed a piece of scrap someone tried tossing through my window awhile back on it for now. Just a standard sledge handle minus around a 1/3 with a tiny bit of material removed from the front and back for the fitting. Don't know if it's supposed to be a sledge handle or something else as well as if it should be around 20 inches or closer to 36 inches long. Also 4x4 post beetle mallet for scale since that's the most comparable thing I have right now.

Basically looking for any info any of y'all have acquired over the years on this big hammer and what it's supposed to actually have as a handle.

 

[doublearon98]

My dad has the same sledge. It's a 16lb and has had a 36" sledge handle in it since I've been alive. Makes one hell of a 2x4 stake driver.

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[RTM]

Most anything I have over 5# is on a 36” handle, mauls and sledges mostly.

 

[RTM]

Here was Stanley Atha’s answer

Stanley Combined Price Book : Stanley, Stanley Handyman, Russell Jennings, "Yankee", Stanley-Atha : List Prices March 11, 1957 : Stanley Tools Division : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming : Internet Archive

76 p., illus., 24.7 cm, trade catalog

archive.org

 

[Jacobs976]

My dad has the same sledge. It's a 16lb and has had a 36" sledge handle in it since I've been alive. Makes one hell of a 2x4 stake driver.

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Mines most likely going to gather dust for now. Looking at going for the 36 inch handle for it unless I get a chance to use it at a forge. Shorter handle would be better for it being a overweight one hander. Might be overkill but more weight, theoretically at least, would mean less swings on the rough bits. Granted I don't know if it'd be considered working harder or easier with the conversion of swings to weight.

Most anything I have over 5# is on a 36” handle, mauls and sledges mostly.

Here was Stanley Atha’s answer

Stanley Combined Price Book : Stanley, Stanley Handyman, Russell Jennings, "Yankee", Stanley-Atha : List Prices March 11, 1957 : Stanley Tools Division : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming : Internet Archive

76 p., illus., 24.7 cm, trade catalog

archive.org

Thanks for the link. Looks like it'd be 34 inch assuming it's 14 pounds which looks quite likely by some examples of a few brands that have the poundage in the same spot as my 4. I might have to go a little harder on cleaning and see if I can actually find a name stamp at some point but it looks more likely to have had a weak/worn off stamping since it's mainly just blackened steel and a hint of rust from the beginning. Probably go with 36 inches since they're about the standard.

 

[Ralf11]

Mjolnir

 

[RTM]

36” is the only size for sledges at House Handle, which is why so many of mine are. Almost all were 36” anyway, one old one was 34”.

 

[Provincial]

Mjolnir

That is what I call my 20-pounder!

 

[Jacobs976]

Mjolnir

That is what I call my 20-pounder!

Once I get around to it I'll have my 75 pounder done. It'll basically be just a gallon of lead in a steel case with reinforced faces. Should drive posts pretty well though as long as there's only a few. It'll be on a 40 inch handle so it's actually usable too. Plus I got a commission for some of the old steel ring beetles that's just a log on a handle which should be fun. Around 8 inch diameter and a foot long on a 36-38 inch handle.

36” is the only size for sledges at House Handle, which is why so many of mine are. Almost all were 36” anyway, one old one was 34”.

34s probably disappeared pretty quickly from the start. I'm sure that 2 inches makes enough difference for some people so it'd be cheaper to just make them all 36 and not have to process a whole batch of replacement handles that's not wanted.

 

[Provincial]

Summer before last, I put my son to work driving a 4" diameter pin out of the bucket of a 100,000 pound excavator with Mjolnir. He is going to University in Germany, and I asked if he wanted video to show his friends there. He thought that was a good idea, so we did that. He said it went over well with his German friends.

 

[Jacobs976]

Summer before last, I put my son to work driving a 4" diameter pin out of the bucket of a 100,000 pound excavator with Mjolnir. He is going to University in Germany, and I asked if he wanted video to show his friends there. He thought that was a good idea, so we did that. He said it went over well with his German friends.

I seen a video from a construction site with similar intentions. Guy was busting up concrete with a 20 pounder and wanted to show off for the camera. Centered the head where he wanted it and started to swing up to overhead position. Kept going back and the weight caught up with him and he folded backwards. Basically trying to swing it like he was a trebuchet. Think shoulder starts are the way to go especially with the big weights. Made a good how not to video at least for the next person to pick up a big hammer for the first time.

 

[Provincial]

I had my son standing on a platform and the impact point was about a foot above the platform. He's over 6 feet tall, so it was a good height. My son worked up slowly to get the backswing higher, eventually getting the head of the hammer about a foot above his head. No overhead swings!

I had him start out with pretty short backswings, telling him to let the weight of the hammer do the work, rather than try to accelerate the head. Once he got the feel for it, he was able to add some force to the swing, and it showed!

 

[Jacobs976]

So update. Got a new handle fitted. Went with maple since I had it on hand and I wanted to play around with it a bit since I'm getting into making handles that are more fitted for the person instead of the usual stick. Probably won't last as long as hickory or locust(I'll be getting a few trees worth once I get a new blade on my chainsaw) but if it breaks I'll just make another handle. So far 50 swings and no deforming or shifting though and it'll probably only see around that many a day. Granted not all of my swings were the best since I had to get used to the weight and handle. Also instead of 36 inches I went a few extra since the knot at the bottom(part of my fitting) was a little too far for it. Ended up at 39 inches with an extra 1/4 sticking out on top so it doesn't stand on its own for those that have heard the stories of the beetle and the unfortunate fall.

 

[d.mcfarland]

Post pictures when you can! Sounds like you made lemonade out of lemons.

 

[Jacobs976]

Here's it with some of my commission stuff. Short walking stick I made out of the same tree, some beetles with different but universal fit handles, and a forged tomahawk I put a new edge on. Handle has a bit of a bend to it but it works well for a 1/3 grip. Little thicker at the bottom but I like a bit more material and I left the bit on the end so it can't slide out of my hand too easily. Don't see the peen end being used really but it doesn't feel weird swinging it that way either. You can tell where the branches came off a bit especially up close. Then the stain did whatever it wanted really. It looked like the walking stick before but the wood had a bit of spotting before it was worked down. Don't mind it though since it's just a plaything and it's rather interesting.

 

[Jacobs976]

And of course it's leaning up against the toolbox and wall in the photos. Won't stand up but will lean fairly straight. The 1/4 doesn't do much but it makes it less of a hazard since any falling against it should hopefully be at an angle versus straight down.

 

[Seppala]

That’s a straight peen sledgehammer. When double striking at the forge the sledge man can use the straight peen to effectively fuller the iron.

 

[Jacobs976]

That’s a straight peen sledgehammer. When double striking at the forge the sledge man can use the straight peen to effectively fuller the iron.

You're right. Mixed up the cross and straight. Also seen them marketed as demolition sledge's since there's more force with the compacted area. I'd like to try running it at a forge eventually but either way I'm going to have to get some accuracy training in with my 50 swings a day schedule before I have the confidence to go for it.