The term ball peen hammer first saw print in 1874, when a mechanic's dictionary referred to it as a "metal worker's hammer ...

Claw hammers aren't a downgrade from framing hammers, even though they do tend to run a bit cheaper and lighter. The weight of a claw hammer is usually around 10 to 16 ounces.

A claw hammer head is usually made of forged steel, although titanium heads are available. The face, shaped into a circular anvil about an inch in diameter, is primarily for driving nails.

Best Budget-Friendly Hammer: Craftsman CMHT51398 16-oz Claw Hammer Best Titanium Hammer: Stiletto TBM14RSC TiBone Mini-14 Best Framing Hammer: Vaughan 10300 CF 1 California Framer ...

Hammers like the Klein Tools straight-claw, smooth head hammer, help to ensure that surfaces remain unmarked — or at least undimpled — avoiding unnecessary follow-on touch-ups or full-blown ...

The Stiletto Trimbone hammer, made almost entirely of titanium, is lighter, more convenient, ... because I feel like I’m betraying my trusty 20-ounce Estwing rip-claw hammer, ...