> 
> Thankyou to those who had suggestions today. It gave me a starting 
> place to look for illustrations, etc.
> 
> Cross-peen it's not, according to Webster's 1910 edition. Webster 
> says the peen of one of those runs crosswise to the handle. This one 
> is parallel with the axis of the handle.
> 
> Esther's blacksmithing lead might be close. The 1902 Sears reprint 
> shows a horseshoer's turning hammer of the same weight and relatively 
> light handle - but again, it's 90 degrees off.
> > Gene
> 
snip--

(message sent to Gene on Wed.)
My vote is for the blacksmith's hammer. I have a distinct image in my mind of
the exact hammer you describe. My father owns a set of 19th century
blacksmithing tools, and the hammer is there. It was used to cut iron by
striking it with the wedged end.

Erik von Sneidern