I have a fun one here.

It appears it may have a hidden wedge. But why, and what's the purpose of this hammer? Why wouldn't it have an eye for a handle to fully pass through the head of the hammer for wedging from the top?

 

 

 

I wonder if someone was playing around with a lathe and decided to make a hammer. The handle is obviously a hand-made one-off. The hole is round rather than oval, which would be easier to do. Maybe he didn't want to damage something on the other side if the drill broke through?

I agree.  It looks like it was turned rather than forged.  Maybe  high school project.

2 hours ago, HandyDan said:

Maybe  high school project.

That was my first thought, but I've seen several HS hammers, and all had a threaded hole to accept a threaded steel handle. I'd love to know if the wooden handle is just forced into the head, or if it's twisted into a thread.

On 8/25/2024 at 3:45 PM, HARO50 said:

I've seen several HS hammers, and all had a threaded hole to accept a threaded steel handle.

 Typical high-school projects. The outer two were mine, the middle one was a 'barn find'. The aluminum cap has seen a lot of use!