I really like the balance of this Picard hammer. It is well made and well suited for general ironwork. My experience with this hammer is that it is a high quality and durable hammer for blacksmithing. Everyone has their own experience, this is mine.
The hammer is well balanced, its front load is to be expected from a Swedish hammer. The handle was firmly fixed and quite large. After removing enough wood to fit my hand, rounding and polishing and nailing the face, it became my favorite hammer of this weight.
Same face to face ratio as a 1000g hammer This is literally and simply a larger version. The same goes for the handle, which is a slightly larger (and slightly longer) version. Same (good) fit and finish. Ready for the user to polish the surface and surface to the desired radius and polish the surface. I could do without paint on my head, but that's okay. The handles are ash (the prefix "811-" stands for ash), not hickory. For me, the grain is perfectly straight. Ash versions are processed…
The hammer is well balanced with the front weight you would expect from a Swedish hammer. The handle was firmly fixed and quite large. After removing enough wood to fit my hand, rounding and polishing and nailing the face, it became my favorite hammer of this weight.
I like the hammer very much. It has a nice solid feel. The hammer head sits very well on the handle. The only thing I didn't like was the slick, shiny finca that's on the handle. This makes it a little slippery when hit with a hammer, but just put it on a grinder for a second and it feels a lot better. Much more control. Other than that, it's a great purchase!
It appears to be a very well made hammer with good impact. The grain on the handle is far from ideal, but it hangs well and is taut. I hope it doesn't calm down anytime soon. The handle is a little thick and covered in paint, but with a little oil on my elbow I was able to remove the paint, thin the handle and smear it with tung oil for a full week.