Making a Viking / Barbarian War Hammer

 This instructable will show you how to make a leather Wrapped Viking / Barbarian  war hammer. The one I have the most pictures of is the prototype. I make these 3 at a time and all are unique  so if the colors of the leather or the handles don't match from picture to picture the techniques are still the same.

Step 1 Tools and Materials

   The base I currently use for the war hammer is called a commander, a large mallet used in timber framing. These are available at The Japan Woodworker in Alameda CA (www.japanwoodworker.com).
 
Materials

    5 to 7 oz. Tooling leather (Vegetable Tanned) or  latigo

    Leather dyes in the color of your choice

    Antique Brass Upholstery tacks

    Heavy thread or artificial sinew and needles

    2" brass ring or antler crown for end cap

    40' of sisal rope

    Snap Clip

    2   3" Screws

    30 or so 3/4" carpet tacks
    
  Tools

    Hammer

    Band, Jig Or Coping Saw

    Razor Knife

    Ruler

    Propane or Mapp gas torch

    Wire Brush

    Drill and Drill Bits

    

    

    

    
    
  
  

Comments

[bobby sissom]

apon seeing this ,the sweedish part of me screamed i gotta make me one,thanks for the assist

[bevmo63]

Love to see a picture when you are done. Cheers Ronin

[Jorthnir]

I'm confused about the whole burning thing... do you actually set them on fire? because that doesn't make sense to me.... maybe i'm missing something. I've had my commander for a loooong time and never gotten around to doing anything with it.... is it too late to burn the wax off or whatever? or will it still be fine? thanks

[bevmo63]

The mapp gas torch is used to char the wood it is only meant to penetrate the surface about 1/16". this is a wood distressing technique. The packing wax melts off and also into the wood. It is hard to stain over wax and this darkens the wood well. Your commander will be fine the age doesn't matter. If you are unsure about the burning try it on a 2 x4 . Burn it till it's black and then brush it out with the grain with a wire brush. Should feel like driftwood when you are done. Cheers Ronin.

[charlesian2000]

That is the best fantasy toy I have seen in a long time :-)  Do you make replicas of real weapons or just fantasy weapons like this one?

[bevmo63]

 Thanks For The Comment . This is an actual functioning weapon based on a timber framing mallet .  Enemies Crushed To Date 3 Watermelons and 5 Ketchup Injected Cantaloupes.  We Tried Using It To Cut A Wedding Cake But Soon Found It Was The Wrong Tool.  This is the only Style Weapon To Date Others In Process. Cheers.

[charlesian2000]

This is one I made a few years back, a bit rough, but I've gotten better since. I enjoy pattern welding better than straight steel these days.

[ninja of suburbia]

I have a question. Since quite obviously you know the difference between pattern welding and Damascus steel, do you know if anyone has perfected the process again? All of the ads claiming "Damascus Steel" are starting to get on my nerves and I'm wondering if any of them have any truth, since I can't very well buy them all and test them myself.

[charlesian2000]

Hey Dude,

Well the term Damascus steel has been misused since the 70's, this is why I use the different terms.

Al Pendray has gotten a close approximation, and there are a few people making wootz pucks, or bulat pucks (all of which are very close to true damascus steel).

http://www.tms.org/pubs/journals/JOM/9809/Verhoeven-9809.html

http://playground.sun.com/~vasya/Bulat.html

There are many people attempting and getting very close.

[ninja of suburbia]

Thanks! the second site, that guy has almost got it perfect!

[bevmo63]

Absolutely Beautiful. Do You Sell These at Any Venues? We Are Always looking for new artisan sword makers especially pattern welded. E Mail Me If This is of interest to you. Thanks. Ron Foster

[ninja of suburbia]

As I said on your shield 'ible, truly, this is well done, and easily adaptable to a battle-grade object by the simple requisite of replacing the leather strapping with steel, and in this case, the head. an extraordinarily formidable weapon, the warhammer takes exceptional strength to wield properly. Again, well done! Keep up the good work!

[teckner]

Great instructable. I've been working on it (and would like to try your shield instructable as well), but I'm stuck at the braiding part. Could you clarify how you go about doing it? I mean brading on the handle, the "over one under one" pattern.

[bevmo63]

Thanks I Hope This Helps. Cheers Ron

[teckner]

Thanks. For some reason I thought that you were cutting individual strips and going under-over like that.
Cheers

[bevmo63]

It can be done either way. If you leave the top attached slightly taper the strands toward the bottom if I remember correctly the handle does taper and the leather gets bunched up. Ron

[red-king]

 do you think it would be possible ot make the hammer's head in 2 parts? or should I just go get a bigger piece of wood for the head?

[bevmo63]

You could make the head out of two pieces.
  I would run the grain long ways and glue them top to bottom rather than side to side, then drill or mortise for the handle.  I would also countersink and screw them together, plugging the screw holes afterward.

[red-king]

 alright. thanks.

[snowluck2345]

gluing top to bottom wouldn't be very strong, you shouldn't glue end grain.

[bevmo63]

I Wasn't talking about end grain, but gluing between layers as in laminating 12 pieces of 8" x 12" x 3/4" stock top to bottom and drilling through. The end grain is the hammer Face.

[snowluck2345]

For some reason I thought you were talking about the handle, even though It says head.

[Addicted2ColdTurkey]

Where do you recommend the head be drilled?

[bevmo63]

I pre drill the screws with a countersink bit offset from the middle, one each side so the leather covers covers them when finished.

[Addicted2ColdTurkey]

Thank you! Great project

[bevmo63]

love to see some pix when you are done.

[Addicted2ColdTurkey]

Would be my pleasure

[Gunnar120]

Do you have any Idea how to get a hammer for less than $70 US? Or at least I hope it's US... or do I? Well, 70 anything is a bit high.

[bevmo63]

That is 70 usd. Other than making one I Have no other sources. Good Luck Ron

[razor367]

Quick question: There are two drawings posted for the braiding up the handle, which one is accurate? One dimensions the leather as being 24"+5" in length (posted in the step-by-step) while the other dimensions the leather as being 24" in total length (posted in the comments section).

[bevmo63]

It Is 24" + 5". The 5 " covers the head wrap ends. sorry for the confusion. Cheers Ron. Love to see some pix when your done.

[razor367]

Roger that. I am away from my tools until the first week of August, but will commence the construction then. I like what you've done with the leatherwork, visually appealing and functional. After I make it through this project, the plan is to make a scaled up hammer from a oak stump I managed to get my hands on, with plenty of extra handle. I'm sure it is not only me who appreciates you posting your construction steps for the public to see, and I would like to say thanks for doing so, from one builder to another. Rick

[strube1369]

Think croquet...

[gibsonfan]

ha! thats fricken awesome!!!!! I want to make one now!!!

[skimmo]

where did you buy the wooden mallet?

[bevmo63]

I Buy Them at The Japan Woodworker in Alameda CA.  www.japanwoodworker.com . Search for "Commander" the name of the mallet. Cheers

[skimmo]

alameda aye?

[bevmo63]

Yes , 1731 Clement in Alameda

[skimmo]

i dont get up to alameda very often. (i live in australia)

[bevmo63]

They ship from the website. Noted in  my first reply.