I have screwdriver sets, drifts and hammers that are only used with my guns... And ocassionally elsewhere when such a specialized tool is needed.
One of my favorites has been a 16 oz brass hammer that my Uncle in IN made for me in his machine shop when he learned I was beginning to collect Winchester 94s. It is still as good as the day he handed it to me... just a little more "experienced"!
However, I noticed that when hitting the side plates on my new 1860 color cased Henry, it would leave a slight "brass" mark on the steel. Nothing that didn't wipe right off, but... still... So I started thinking of what type of hammer wouldn't do that. And recalled a plastic and rubber faced hammer that my Dad owned. I sure think I've seen them around, but couldn't recall seeing one recently. So, a search was instituted. Ya know what? Truck stops are very poor places to find tools... and Wal-Marts are only one or two steps up the ladder from them!
I don't particularily like catalog shoppping, but... sometimes there no substitute. And in this instance, a need for a new chainsaw and week-eater came to my rescue. While at the Sears site... I did a search on plastic hammer... viola, there was what I wanted!
Craftsman 12 oz. Plastic-Tip Hammer. Now unlike their wrenches and sockets, this doesn't have the lifetime warranty... but... boy, does it do the job for which I purchased it! Surprisingly, that hard plastic surface also drifts out the wedges on my '51 Navies like nobody's business. Whereas my brass hammer would knock the wedge loose, it would often take addition hits to move it far enough that it would be able to moved by hand and barrel removed. With the plastic face, one strike and the wedge is almost all the way out.
.***
