Hammer time!

[Ton ton]

I just refurbed and rehandled this Italian No. 65950 Globemaster hammer head. Someone left it out on the curb for free.

As found:



As refurbed:



Rehandled:





And on the hammer rack, left. The yellow and blue hammers were also on the curb as well; nothing but a little rust, otherwise, perfectly usable.




Thanks for looking!

Thank you for the claw hammer pic!

 

[fishwatcher]

I picked up this purportedly 2 lbs ball peen hammer for $5. Turns out the handle is cracked and the head has some weird stuff going on with it. Welds? And nubs. Any clue what brand this is and from what timeframe? What are these four nubs of metal in the head?

I can buy a new 14” Link hickory engineers hammer replacement handle for $12 or $15 for a Vaughn Supreme claw hammer handle. Is it worth the time and investment to fix it up? I like projects like this, so it’d be more for fun than anything else. If it’s not worth fixing .. then I’d rather not spend any more money on this.

 

[Outlawmws]

Owners "marks"

 

[fishwatcher]

Thx @Outlawmws. I ground the nubs off with a Dremel, polished off the rust and will rehandle it sometime. If I had a belt sander, I’d remove the owner’s marks on the sides, but it’s not worth the work otherwise. On second thought, maybe a bench grinder will make quick work of it.

 

[Fred Knox]

Here’s an old 12” strapped hammer I have. I finally cleared off the patina and discovered it was marked, to the best of my eyesight, “ Butterfield”. I cannot find any Butterfield company manufacturing hammers. I’d be happy to hear if any of you have any thoughts on the original manufacturer.

 

[four.cycle]

I'm stumped. Only "Butterfield" I have is a tap and die maker in Derby Line, Vermont. Maybe British?

 

[RTM]

I cannot find any Butterfield company manufacturing hammers

From DAT

1849-55

Butterfield succeeded Phineas Eastman, Dan Shaw Balch, and Jonathan Kittredge and was succeeded by Nathan Jones. The mark reported is from a strapped claw hammer which may be the Eastman patent. Butterfield is otherwise cited as making nail, shoe, and riveting hammers in an 1855 catalog.

DAT, Directory of American Toolmakers (pre 1900)

https://www.amazon.com/Directory-American-Toolmakers-CD-ROM/dp/0943196051?tag=atomicindus08-20

 

[Fred Knox]

Wow @RTM! How did you find that? I still can’t find it on DAT. You are very fast/helpful on that site, for everyone. What’s your method? Thanks.

 

[RTM]

Are you looking on DAT or DATAMP, two different systems? Need to clarify my response above.
DAT, I have to flip thru a CD, but in alphabetical order.

 

[fishwatcher]

Today, I finished re-handling a cleaned up an old 2 lbs ball peen hammer I picked up for $5. See its original condition above, post #1682. I used a Link USA made hickory handle, filed and sanded off a bunch of wood from the end to make it fit, sanded off the factory lacquer and put on a coat of boiled linseed oil. I used the wooden wedge and steel wedge to lock in the head. Seems solid to me.



I also built a simple hammer rack this weekend and put 3 coats of poly urethane on it.

On the rack is a Craftsman mallet, HF claw hammer, the new to me nameless ball peen hammer, an Estwing 20oz framing hammer, and a no-name rubber mallet.

A few other tools have made their way onto the rack, including a couple of Nicholson files and two fixed blade knives.

 

[LesserSon]

I picked up a small Vaughan-Bushnell ballpein last weekend

4oz

it joins a 11.5oz brother

Original handle cut down to 8”, but catalog specs 11”
I’ve got two unused 10” options, and a used 11.5” option.

I’ll probably go with the 10” Turnerday, but does anyone recognize the mystery on the 11.5” handle?
“ERS MAR PROD HICKORY USA” is my best guess. Maybe “ERS MARTRUE HICKORY USA”?

 

[2oolhound]

Nice Vaughan-Bushnell ballpeins there. I like those little ones but two's a set!

The 1st thing that popped into my head on the handle mystery was "MAKER'S MARK" but that doesn't make much sense for a handle.

Those are some neat old handles. I hang on to them too. Sometimes they won't do the job they were made for but I'll still use them for chisels etc.

 

[KnurledNut]

but does anyone recognize the mystery on the 11.5” handle?
“ERS MAR PROD HICKORY USA” is my best guess. Maybe “ERS MARTRUE HICKORY USA”?

FULLER’S MAR-PROOF
HICKORY-USA

That handle was originally intended for one of their soft face mallets.

 

[Ton ton]

Here’s an old 12” strapped hammer I have. I finally cleared off the patina and discovered it was marked, to the best of my eyesight, “ Butterfield”. I cannot find any Butterfield company manufacturing hammers. I’d be happy to hear if any of you have any thoughts on the original manufacturer.

Definitely an interesting- looking claw hammer! I appreciate you sharing it with us.

 

[Outlawmws]

nice finds there, LS!

 

[Private Lugnutz]

I saved this LEFT-BEHIND from yesterday for you and this thread, @Outlawmws . The vendor was an older Hungarian guy who said he got it from a friend, also Hungarian, whose last name is the second name on the cheek. The marking, which is kind of thin and light and difficult to read in the photo, is STRANGZINGER / LAJOS. He didn't know what it was for or what trade the man was in. (It was also one of those ironic, funny flea market conversations where the seller is embellishing the tool with an emotional connection to justify the price that completely belies the act of selling it, as well as characterizing it as special despite not knowing anything about it. ) Strange, asymmetric head with identical, rounded faces.

 

[Outlawmws]

Definitely metal forming, but new to me for head style and makers marks.

Yeah people are strange how they do that - sometimes they embellish the back story and still give it away...

 

[RTM]

STRANGZINGER / LAJOS

Google translate says the second line is Louis in English.

kalapács. Is hammer in Hungarian

Still brings up nothing

 

[fishwatcher]

I picked up this 12 oz Craftsman Ball Peen hammer today at a yard sale. I polished up the heads, sanded the handle and put on some boiled linseed oil. Looks great for $5 and some elbow grease.

 

[Patrickm82]

Looks like new! Nice work.

 

[fishwatcher]

Looks like new! Nice work.

Thanks! There are times you see something posted online and make an effort to go and hopefully find what you’re looking for at a yard sale, or hope that the person you’ve planned to buy from doesn’t flake on you.

And then there are days like today, when you park your car to meet a friend, there’s a yard sale next to your car, and a find like this is right there waiting for you.

I feel stupid posting this compared to all of the other big hammer collections.. but this new Craftsman has bumped the generic rubber mallet from the hammer shelf I just posted about last week.

 

[Patrickm82]

Ahh, don’t feel stupid every collection has to start some where!

 

[Dave455]

I picked up this 12 oz Craftsman Ball Peen hammer today at a yard sale. I polished up the heads, sanded the handle and put on some boiled linseed oil. Looks great for $5 and some elbow grease.

Nice!

You’re infinitely better off doing this, than buying a new / made in China / poor quality tool, for probably more money!

 

[GX460DIYguy]

This seems like a good place to ask. I found the head to an old sledge hammer tucked between two of the studs in our shed that was previously hidden by some paint that was in there before we moved in. It has the remains of a cut off wooden handle in it and I’d like to replace the handle, but I’m not looking to make it myself. Who makes a good replacement handle that isn’t too expensive? I plan to clean it up, put a new handle on it, and give it to my dad since he’s been wanting a bigger one and this one is bigger than his current one. I’m going to take it out tonight when I get home and clean it up and see if it has any markings on it.

 

[four.cycle]

here is one company that has gotten glowing reviews here:
Tennessee / Tennessee Hickory Products, 111 Keene, PO Box 309, Loudon, TN, 37774 / https://www.tennesseehickory.com/ / wood handles /

handles at "big box" retailers are ****!

if you don't want to mail order, find a local saw shop.

 

[GX460DIYguy]

here is one company that has gotten glowing reviews here:
Tennessee / Tennessee Hickory Products, 111 Keene, PO Box 309, Loudon, TN, 37774 / https://www.tennesseehickory.com/ / wood handles /

handles at "big box" retailers are ****!

if you don't want to mail order, find a local saw shop.

Not sure how much one handle would cost, but their minimum order is $200 and I’m fairly certain there’s no local retailers near me. I’ll have to call some of the mom and pop hardware stores tomorrow.

 

[GarageHobbyist]

Not sure how much one handle would cost, but their minimum order is $200 and I’m fairly certain there’s no local retailers near me. I’ll have to call some of the mom and pop hardware stores tomorrow.

I just made an order with House Handle out of Missouri and was happy with them. The website is a little clunky to order and the shipping time was a little slow to go one state over, but I ordered the cheaper FH grade and all the handles were good.

After I placed my order, I was at the local Runnings and they have a whole section of House Handles. Of course they were a couple more dollars, but I will probably go there next time when I don't need a bunch at once.

 

[four.cycle]

whoa! I had no idea they had such a high minimum order! sorry about that!
first I've heard of "House Handle".

Not sure how much one handle would cost,

Last 36 inch handle I bought was for a single-blade axe and it set me back just shy of $30 bucks. That would have been at least ten years ago. From Ron Jones Power Equipment - local saw shop.

 

[RTM]

first I've heard of "House Handle"

House Handle for the win. A big handle will have higher shipping, but buy several different ones to keep the cost per down.

Here is /$93 +$27 shipping 10 years back

 

[four.cycle]

^ good to know. I hate making a recommendation and having it turn sour.

18 handles for $125 bucks? Screamin' deal there.
I used to get ALL my handles from Lincoln Hardware. I seem to recall paying in the neighborhood of $25-$30 bucks to re-handle shovels, rakes, and other garden tools.

 

[GX460DIYguy]

whoa! I had no idea they had such a high minimum order! sorry about that!
first I've heard of "House Handle".

Last 36 inch handle I bought was for a single-blade axe and it set me back just shy of $30 bucks. That would have been at least ten years ago. From Ron Jones Power Equipment - local saw shop.

No problem. They do seem to have great reviews.

 

[GX460DIYguy]

I just made an order with House Handle out of Missouri and was happy with them. The website is a little clunky to order and the shipping time was a little slow to go one state over, but I ordered the cheaper FH grade and all the handles were good.

After I placed my order, I was at the local Runnings and they have a whole section of House Handles. Of course they were a couple more dollars, but I will probably go there next time when I don't need a bunch at once.

I remember seeing a handle on zoro I believe that was made by house handle. I’ll have to check it later.

 

[GarageHobbyist]

Here are a few of my favorites that I grab the most. I think I’m up to 50 or 60 hammers at this point.

The Champion is getting a new handle tonight. I need to see if I have one for the little Plumb.

 

[Jacobs976]

Just added my third 48oz to the collection.

Looked for a few years trying to find one instead of ordering one then went ahead and got one(Vaughan) on Amazon. Immediately after I found the Stanley on the left and this week I got the New Britain in the centre which I've polished up a bit and painted the non-contact surfaces black as well as a touch of white in the lettering.

Also wedge is interesting, haven't seen such a robust wedge on a hammer like this. It's usually the traditional or maybe the O ring style but this kind I think I've only seen in some sledgehammers.

Not mint condition but faces are clean and it's ready to work.

 

[GX460DIYguy]

Just added my third 48oz to the collection.

Looked for a few years trying to find one instead of ordering one then went ahead and got one(Vaughan) on Amazon. Immediately after I found the Stanley on the left and this week I got the New Britain in the centre which I've polished up a bit and painted the non-contact surfaces black as well as a touch of white in the lettering.

Also wedge is interesting, haven't seen such a robust wedge on a hammer like this. It's usually the traditional or maybe the O ring style but this kind I think I've only seen in some sledgehammers.

Not mint condition but faces are clean and it's ready to work.

That New Britain is beautiful

 

[GarageHobbyist]

Just added my third 48oz to the collection.

Looked for a few years trying to find one instead of ordering one then went ahead and got one(Vaughan) on Amazon. Immediately after I found the Stanley on the left and this week I got the New Britain in the centre which I've polished up a bit and painted the non-contact surfaces black as well as a touch of white in the lettering.

Also wedge is interesting, haven't seen such a robust wedge on a hammer like this. It's usually the traditional or maybe the O ring style but this kind I think I've only seen in some sledgehammers.

Not mint condition but faces are clean and it's ready to work.

That’s a nice one!

I got a new handle on the Champion head last night.

 

[GX460DIYguy]

Well, this didn’t come up in my search for a sledge hammer handle, but it did when looking for a ball peen handle for a blue point hammer that I got from a friend that’s in bad shape. If you happen to have a Murdoch’s farm supply store near you then you have a dealer for the House handles mentioned in previous posts. They’re also cheaper than other stores. I’ll pick up a few for different types of hammers soon since I plan to go through one of my grandfather’s sheds this weekend to see what all I can drag out to keep me busy over the winter.

 

[GaryM909]

I have had these hammers for over 47 years. One is a Herbrand and I believe the other two are Proto. The heads are beat up pretty good but I think they all have the original handles.

 

[GarageHobbyist]

I have had these hammers for over 47 years. One is a Herbrand and I believe the other two are Proto. The heads are beat up pretty good but I think they all have the original handles.

Those have some character! Pretty cool.

Anyone have any info on hammers marked “Handmade” like this? This is on eBay, but there is one local to me also.

 

[four.cycle]

Anyone have any info on hammers marked “Handmade” like this?

nope... and I'm not even sure I want to try to take a stab at that one.

still trying to dig my way out of the last rabbit hole I found myself in.