[encantotom]

i did my saturday morning jaunt to the local flea market this morning and found this hammer.  dont know what i would use it for but for 2 bucks it was a cool find.  it is really old and really well used.  

all aluminum head.

any ideas what it was meant for?

tom

[folivier]

Well I've seen and used brass hammers similar to this. They're used in hazardous areas since they don't create a spark. Also used as a dead-blow hammer, it won't bounce off of whatever you're hitting.

[Retro]

Aluminum is softer and less chance of damaging, i use a piece copper to true up parts in the lathe. Soft but heavy, won't leave dents in the part.

[HoosierDaddy]

I think it had plastic molded over the ends. Those were used by rail road workers. The ID marks would have been where it is all gouged up on the side.

[Fulltiming]

Had one similar to that to remove the knock-off spinners on the wire wheels of my old '62 XKE. Can't remember if it was aluminum or brass.

[nuevomex]

Given the very dark handle, and having worked on the railroad, I vote for that environment, possibly in the maintenance shops for a special app on locomotives.