Can anyone ID this object?

[Wraith_3]

I didn't know exactly what forum to put this in, so I'm going to go out on a limb and guess it's firearm related. It looks like a miniature sledge hammer, but I have no clue what it is. This is one of the few items from my dad's collection that has absolutely no information connected with it.

 

[JackADriscoll]

Coopers hammer? Or just a regular hammer with a bent handle

 

[johan_steele]

I believe it is a tinners hammer. I don't know the purpose.

 

[Bonny Blue Flag]

Could it be a hammer warped over time due to how it was held.

--BBF

 

[Wraith_3]

I found an auction page my dad printed out and it says this is actually two minie balls. One is shaped into the head and the other rolled out into the shaft. I'm going to see if it's magnetic because the aging doesn't look like lead to me.

 

[Wraith_3]

Well it is not magnetic so it could be lead. That's an odd patina for lead, at least from my experience though.

 

[Salterr]

I would seriously doubt those are two bullets. I'm not even sure two .69 caliber bullets would yield enough lead to make that thing. I wish I had an answer for you but it's an intriguing piece. It really does remind me of some tiny tinkering hammer, who knows If it's even that

 

[johan_steele]

Looking at the patina I'd say it's bronze.

 

[Wraith_3]

Yeah it's weird and I doubt now they are lead. The metal on the shaft does give a little, but you really have to put some muscle into it to move it. That doesn't seem like lead at all. If it was a hammer, the only thing I can think of it even remotely being useful for is watch making or jewelry making.

 

[johan_steele]

It also may be a snow hammer with the ide being to use the bottom of the handle as the pick. Bronze would rust and the shape of the handle may be specific to a carriage or sleigh.

 

[Wraith_3]

I can't see a 4 inch hammer being much use with a carriage or sleigh, but I've been wrong before.

 

[johan_steele]

I can't see a 4 inch hammer being much use with a carriage or sleigh, but I've been wrong before.

A snow hammer isn't very large. It's used to knock snow and ice off a horses hooves. They were commonly carried on a sleigh.