Early Hammers

[Jersey Devil]

I have a thing for gas trap hammers......

[jnw847]

Very nice collection. Thanks for sharing.

[Orlando]

They arent any good, they have holes in them

[CCyooper]

They arent any good, they have holes in them

Wasn't that how they demilled them?

[m14brian]

Nice strong collection!
m14brian

[RDS]

Brian
Can you list the variations that are in that pile.
RDS

[Jersey Devil]

Brian
Can you list the variations that are in that pile.
RDS

Rich,
In that pile I believe there are just three. They are:

C 46008-1 (hand stamped w/ serifs)
C 46008-1
C46008-1 ( note the lack of space between the "C" and the "4")

I believe these are middle gas trap production. The real early ones are the hard ones to find.
---Brian

[Bodyman]

This one?



Yea, they are pretty difficult, but I think this one may be a bit more difficult;



I know, I am just a rotten tease ... To be honest, I think they might be about equally difficult.

I have actually had 2 of the MS hammers so far (and handled a third that was in a rifle!) - I ended up with both of the loose ones because they are unmarked and nobody knew what they were.

On the first one, I bought something from a fella and asked what the unmarked hammer was priced at. He replied that he had no idea if it was even real so he just threw it in with the other parts, ... I was still pretty green so it took me a few days to find it in the books and when I did I about fell out of my chair. Something that early is pretty special, at least to me.

I was told that SA must have made many copies of the MS hammer - maybe they were trying to sort out that chipping issue. Regardless, they seem to show up from time to time if you are paying attention.

Not that I was ever searching for one, but at the same time I think I have only come across 1 loose no-revision hammer for sale. Maybe the no-revisions are tougher than the MS hammers? Dunno really.

[Bubba1]

MS hammers are rare but not impossible. I've had 3 over the years and let one go. I know, I know, what was I thinking. .. Of course that was before I ever had anything early enough for it to go into. No revision hammers are tough also. I've found several hammers that had the -1 hand engraved / scribbed. They started hand stamping after those and several variations exist upon them.

[Jersey Devil]

Your photos have been posted below. Thanks for sharing them with us here!

[Bodyman]

Do you think they took all the no revision hammers they had in stock and just slapped a -1 on them by hand? It wouldn't be the first time there was a revision without a real change, ... Is that maybe why the no-revisions are so difficult? The -1's of any variety are easy by comparison.

I always love the fact that, even with all the effort to identify them by maker and revision time-frame, they were all made so well that so many of these early parts were all still used on rebuilds and they were never removed from the system. Early on they seemed to, but then they only culled out the springs and gastrap cylinders, pretty much. Regardless of revision, they were all still interchangeable.

Would love to have whatever bin they were throwing those gastrap parts in, ...

[Jersey Devil]

Photos posted for Bubba........

[Bodyman]

Sweet.

Sorry that wasn't 10 characters long so I had to add something. Are you sure you want to make ME write more - be careful what you wish for, ...

[Bubba1]

LOL, stand up on that stump and preach away......

[Jersey Devil]

I need to post an updated photo of my early hammers.......

[Arnhem44mad]

I need to post an updated photo of my early hammers.......

Is it possible to PM you at all mate? Or email?

I have 2x -1 ammers and was looking to see if you thought either was hand Stamoed.

Cheers!

Scott