Description of Hammer Weighted Rawhide Mallet Size HAM 408 00
Ideal for flattening and shaping soft metals without marring. Seasoned hickory handle; high grade rawhide mallet filled with lead for weight. Made in the USA. Face diameter is 1-1/2 inches with a head weight of 12 ounces. Weighted mallet means greater striking efficiency.
This is a good hammer, it's weighted and being raw leather it won't scratch the metal I'm working on (I'm making a ring and needed something to help me shape the metal on a ring mandrel). However, and perhaps all rawhide hammers are made that way, it is coated in resin that seems to chip off when I use it. It allowed me to achieve what I set out to do, so it's working great.
This is a well weighted hammer and as it is raw leather it will not scratch the metal I am working on (I am making a ring and I needed something to help me with sculpting helps metal on a ring-shaped mandrel). However, and maybe that's what all rawhide hammers are, it's covered in this resin that seems to flake off when I use it. It allowed me to achieve what I set out to do, so it's working great.