Out back in the deepest corners of the barn is what I like to call the rust box. An old drawer that I assume used to belong to a very nice piece of furniture at one point in its life lined with rusted pliers, sécateurs, pruning knives and saws that haven't seen a spot of oil, care or attention in decades.
During a rummage through the box for some nice steel I found a beautiful large french pattern forging hammer caked in rust. I gave it a soak in my vinegar mix just in case there were any makers marks on the sides to reveal which there unfortunately wasn't. But not to worry, she’ll still look pretty all cleaned up.
I had saved a beautiful piece of wood from in between the rafters of a stable roof that I had fixed up, I knew there was something different about it as it was the only piece of wood up there not completely eaten to sawdust by woodworm. Apparently a bunch of logs were put up there to block the barn cats having kittens out of reach some 65 years ago, so I can be sure it's well seasoned. After I saw the grain and how it split I'm 100% certain this is a log of black locust which is a great springy and strong wood perfect for a hammer.
After splitting into a quarter I split out the pith and the outer corners then whittled down the bark side with an axe to make a rectangular section. There was a slight bend to the grain but none too serious.
With the handle rectangular I shaped the neck down so that it was just a little oversized for the hammerhead and decided to leave it at that for the moment.
