Zen-Wu F-4 Hammer

The F-4 is the successor to the classic F-1, our first hammer: a hardened stainless-steel strike face on a titanium body. The standard body is TC4 titanium with a brass ring set at the seam between face and body. The titanium end carries a slight convexity for kigoroshi (compressing wood fibers so they swell back later to tighten a joint) and other shaping jobs. Titanium transfers more of the swing into the work instead of absorbing it as flex and vibration, and returns far less recoil to the wrist than a steel hammer. The handle is dyed hickory. The flame-anodized version is burned to a stylized finish: interference colors from a controlled oxide layer, not paint or dye. The brass version, apart from the added weight, has its body hand-textured by chiseling. On both, the open grain of the handle is filled with brass powder. Strike face: S136 ESR stainless steel, 52-53 HRC. Head: 2-13/16" long, 1-3/4" across (70.9 × 44.3mm). Overall length: 11-5/8" (295mm). Head weight: 16 oz (450g) titanium; 24.5 oz (696g) brass. Total weight: 20 oz (560g) titanium; 28.5 oz (807g) brass. Handle care instructions