Plomb/Proto body hammers

[Jeff Nelson]

Does anyone have a description of the various Plomb/Proto body hammers? I've managed to acquire a few and I don't really intend to collect them all but it would be nice to know what was made. A picture is always good but a description is sometimes better. (The crown of the hammer face isn't obvious from most pictures.)

From what I can tell so far:

1421 is a long reach with both ends round one smaller than the other. What is the diameter and crown of the faces?

1424 is short (4 inch) with 1 inch round and square faces. Crown?

1425 is similar to 1424 but heavier. Crown?

1426 is a long reach with a 1 inch medium crown round end and a barrel end.

1427 is a short cross peen with a 1 inch round end. Mine is flat but these usally described as a medium crown face.

1428 is a pick hammer. Crown, diameter?

Are there others not on my list?

It seems that the Plomb/Proto hammers in general have smaller diameter faces than the Martin and SnapOn hammers.

[jlrussell4]

Hi Jeff,

Here is the Proto 1423 "shrinking hammer". Yup, I wasted my money on this



Jim

[SecaTim]

Originally Posted by jlrussell4

Hi Jeff,

Here is the Proto 1423 "shrinking hammer". Yup, I wasted my money on this



Jim

Jim don't consider it wasted, just use it as a meat tenderizer... :wink:

Tim 8)

[rookie]

Don't feel bad Jim, I paid $80.00 for a Snap-on just like it.

Phil

[Steve Hamilton]

Hi Jim & group

That shrinking hammer has one nice square head for getting into corners.

I bet a grinder, a DA sander, an assortment of DA pads & a few minutes could make a nice round face out of that meat tenderizer.


WOW that makes it look like a much better value for your $$$$$

Steve Hamilton

[Ernie Ferrucci]

Hi Jim

Your hammer looks new. Are Proto body hammers still made? I couldn't find them a couple of months ago searching the internet.
I came across some hammers at www.nabocker.com that had handles resembling yours, but not the hammers I was interested in. Any info will be appreciated.

I had the same idea Steve had, grind and finish, can't have too many hammers

Ernie Ferrucci

[jlrussell4]

Hi Ernie,

I purchased this hammer and the Proto 1427 about 15 yrs or so ago. It looks new because I only used it once That was enough :roll:
I don't believe they are being made any longer.

Some day I'll grind those serations off and have a Proto "custom".

Jim

P.S. I really like the 1427

[Ernie Ferrucci]

Thanks Jim

I think your're right, protos are no longer made. I think the 1427 is the one I was looking for. Is that a cross peen (combination chisel & round bumping)? I bought a Martin 168G that is like that but I'm not happy with it.

Ernie Ferrucci

[Jeff Nelson]

The first body hammer I bought was the Martin 168 cross peen. Sometime later I got a Plomb 1427 on ebay. What a lovely hammer; nice balance, small face and the peen end is tapered to make it easy to see where you're hitting. It makes the Martin cross peen feel rather clumsy. I'd like to grind down the Martin 168 to resemble the Plomb 1427. The Plomb/Proto 1427 regularly go for $50 and up on ebay when they show up.

The Plomb/Proto 1426 is another real nice hammer. Quite a bit heavier than the 1427, it is a deep reach,with medium crown face and a barrel end. John Kelly uses one like it on his shrinking video.