Sledgehammer

The sledgehammer is a heavy hammer (between 2 and 12 kg) with wedge-shaped peen, which in some cases lies in the same plane as the handle. The handle is long (approx. 60 to 100 cm) so that it can be gripped with both hands to hit with great force. The sledgehammer is used by the blacksmith for heavy forging work; many other professions use it too, such as the quarry worker.

When the blacksmith works with one or more helpers, he uses a forging hammer to indicate where to strike. The helpers then each handle a sledgehammer to do the actual forging work. [MOT]