Well,I can't do any writing because I uploaded the pictures first. Needless to say,these are other chasing hammers. The large (1 1/2" one) one was case hardened for hours in my electric furnace way back in 1979. The smaller,1" dia. ones are hardened drill rod.
The other hammer is to show that my name is stamped on them. I was not aware of the dust on the "graceful hammer". Things really show up in magnified pictures!
The chasing handles are all ash,stained with potassium permanganate (KMNO4),and varnished a bit with Tru Oil gunstock finish. The regular chasing hammers have bulbous handles,and the "graceful" hammers have very small ball pein type handles made of hickory. I have to make them,because you can't get real small ball pein handles any more. And,if you could,they would likely be miserably ugly Chinese oak handles.
I had a friend,who considers himself a great designer,comer into my shop when I was making more small ball pein handles not long ago. He was astounded that I'd be wasting my time,because"You can buy those for a few dollars!" Oh,no,you CAN'T!! You'l get ill designed Asian junk,made of that ugly Asian oak. Not that I'm against every thing Asian,but they can keep their hammer handles! Their bulbous chasing hammer handles are grotesque!!!!!
I spent years gathering old stamp sets with nice letters with serifs,and graceful numbers. Projects stamped with modern "Gothic" stamps are really hurt by their lack of artistic appearance. The G.Wilson and Maker stamps on the "graceful hammer" are one piece stamps made by Buckeye Engraving. They will use any font style you can find on your computer. Great guys to work with. They remember your specs forever if 10 years later,you want more stamps that match the last ones you ordered.
The chasing hammers were stamped with a set of WWI Army dog tag stamps. Look at the "7". They made beautiful stamps back then. I have a set that must be very close to 18th. C.,so crude are the steel shanks. But the letters are immaculately hand chiseled true Roman style,with "Thick and thin" elements,the only such stamps I have ever seen. They are 1/4" tall. People back then,as a general population,were made more aware of artistic things than people these days. It was part of their education,beautiful hand writing,for example,was expected. Today,they are discontinuing teaching any hand writing in schools. Too bad. Tomorrow's kids will be helpless if they need to leave a note,and have no computer handy.
My wife has commandeered the chasing hammers for her jewelry making work.
