Artillery hammer? Blacksmith hammer?

[pete77]

I found this on a site where a civil war battle took place with trenches still intact. Also found a handful of minè balls, a couple horshoes and a 3 prong fork. I thought it looked similar to artillery hammer pictures I found, but not sure. Can anyone help? Thanks

 

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[tamrock]

Somebody beat the heck out of that thing. I don't see a hole for a handle in it. The shape of it looks like what in the mines they call a cold cut hammer. I have one some place that came from the mine I worked at in the 70s. We could cut a 40lb. rail with it and 3 or 4 whacks with a 8lb double jack, more commonly known as a sledge hammer. I still have a piece of a cold cut hammer that shot in to the calf muscle of my right leg. The doc at the minesite infirmary said it's best to leave it in my leg, unless I really want to be in worse pain. You can pass a stud finder over it and it will beep.

 

[pete77]

Actually I failed to mention that there is a circle sticking out slightly on one side obviously where the handle broke off. Found in a forest with nothing around but relics really. And there was without a doubt heavy civil war fighting there.That's why I wondered if it was civil war era. Thanks for your reply.

 

[tamrock]

Could have been used to split wood? and or a felling wedge also. I'm thinking it's logging related.

 

[pete77]

That actually occured to me first(Wood splitter). But, when I looked around at some pictures it looked like either a wood splitter, an artillery hammer or some kind of blacksmith tool. All of which could have been civil war. It is hard for me to date things, but the fact that I found civil war bullets in the same spot made me think it was a tool used during the civil war. Not sure though, maybe it is more recent despite that it was found in a forest with nothing much around.

 

[pete77]

Can anyone date this?