Mid 18th century. Forged iron using swedges, with tapered octagonal neck or poll and sharply hooked back claw. 10 ¼” overall. The handle replaced. Claw hammers were in use at least by the 16th century and one is depicted in Albrecht Durer’s Melencolia, of 1514. At the time, nails were expensive and salvaged whenever possible. Derelict houses and other buildings were sometimes burned in order to reuse the nails.
