Hello:

I just wanted to show everyone a warhammer I made during the fall at a local blacksmith shop. It was inspired by many seen in the hafted weapons album in this web site. It began as a 16oz. ball-pien hammer. I cut off the handle. Then I pounded & hammered everything to the shape I wanted with repeated heatings in a fire. The head's face was filed to four squares in a "waffle-iron" sort of pattern. The head was installed onto a new, longer handle I got at a local hardware store - with shims pounded into the top. I've wondered about the possibility of such a project since I was a boy. I guess I proved the concept.

Auf duetsch, dies ist ein schlacthammer oder kriegshammer? Ja?

If only I knew how to make a coronel head and a metal handle. Does anyone know how? I'd really like to make another with a coronel head. Hopefully, I'll learn how to make my own halberd one day.

Enjoy!

Sincerely,
Dustin Faulkner
Texas, USA

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Homemade warhammer made from a ball-pien hammer.

Very nice! I really like weapons that have that simple and functional look. Nothing fancy...just straight to the point (literally) :P

Nice job, Dustin -- looks quite handy!

Cheers,
Craig

I have had similar interests, though this is a very nice item to see;of what one can do at his home (sort to speak)

What about using a rock pick or a geologists hammer as the starting point? I have been thinking about getting one.[ Linked Image ]

Nice work.

The words you were looking for in German are "Kriegshammer" or "Streithammer".
In this case i would use "Rabenschnabel", because of its beak.

Some of y'all might be interested in today's Deal of the Day at MRL. $65!

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I am going attempt to make a similar project over the next few weeks. I am wondering if there are any methods to “antique” the hammer head?

I am going to sand and use linseed oil of the shaft.

JG Elmslie, can I make a suggestion?

For ash axe hafts, I just buy a load of cricket stumps. Straight grained English ash, 28" long, 1 1/4" min. diameter. I can pick up half a dozen for just over £20 (less if I scour the junk shops). I use them to make hafts for the tomahawk and boarding axe simulators I make for the WMA guys.

Julian

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Very cool, I really like the head on your hammer Dustin.

I also made one out of a "rock" hammer. It was a fun project, but these type of hammers are very tough steel! I used a bench grinder and some round files to give it that warhammer look. I made the handle out of a piece of hickory I had.

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Ron

Silicone is for wimps - they're made from hardwood (iroko, beech, whatever I have lots of at the time) sprayed black.

They're tough, effective, look authentic/traditional at 20 paces and hurt a lot less than a re-enactment metal blunt. I use them for 18th Century WMA/reenactment because you aren't wearing any sort of armour or protection (no plate or shields, for instance) at this time in history and therefore a metal blunt would just cause massive damage if it accidentally connected with sufficient force.....

Anyway, I risk hijacking this thread so I'll sign off....

Julian

Slater's hammers work well too, I modified a couple a few years back although these days I'd rather forge and temper a head from mild steel. I like the idea of using cricket stumps as hafts but would love to find longer ash poles to use as hanlberd hafts, currently I use Homebase 35mm (1&3/8'') poles in softwood; thet look OK when oiled, but ash would be better, I just lack the time to cut and shape seven feet of hardwood myself!

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Question: When you made that, how did you shape the haft and langets to fit under the head and do you have any pictures of the pieces just prior to final assembly?

Because it looks like something I'd like to try :D .

Historically would the langets have gone under the head? I heard somewhere they went over the head to hold it on, but i dunno if the guy was right. I'm intrigued.
Thnx
Z

I don't have a picture but I have created a graphic that I hope will show the method I used. The langets don't fit under the head. I bent them a bit so that they curved at the end, and then carved the wood a bit so that it appears that they disappear under the head. They are just actually butted up against the head.

Thanks Ron :) .