Japanese Dog's Head Hammer

Rooted in the rich history of Japanese forging techniques, this hammer embodies the essence of precision and finesse, making it an essential tool for any blacksmith.

Ryan was able to do the entire process with an induction forge, ending up with almost zero scale from carbon leaching. As a result, this hammer head has the most carbon it could possibly have from a forging process, because of the ability to isolate heats to one area at a time.

"The dog's head is a very quick, but very easy-to-mess-up design and this really pushed me. I'm so glad I did it because it's quickly becoming my favorite hammer I've made.

I get more efficient each time and incorporate new tooling to always improve my process. Also, the new koi hot stamp is the bees knees." 
- Ryan

About the hammer

The 1.5-lb head is heat-treated 1045 tool steel. The faces are induction-forge-hardened and polished. Because of this heating method, the faces are hard and the body is soft -- so the body is more absorbent to the stress and shock of your hammer blows.

The hand-shaped American Hickory handle is 12" long, and flame-licked for some grain color contrast.

Every hammer is branded with both of our logos, using hot stamps we designed & made in our shop. 

Historical Significance

The Japanese Dog's Head Hammer draws inspiration from the ancient art of Japanese swordsmithing, where every strike counts in the creation of legendary katana blades. Crafted with a keen understanding of balance and form, this hammer pays homage to the traditional hammers used by Japanese blacksmiths for generations. Its distinctive "dog's head" shape is a nod to the symbolism of loyalty and dedication, values held dear in the world of forging.