Forged hammer head with side nail puller

A method for forming a hammer head, comprising:

• sequentially placing a blank in a series of cooperating forging dies;
• and
• sequentially shaping the blank in the forging dies into a hammer head, a hammer claw, a hammer face, and a side nail puller disposed between the face and the claw, the side nail puller comprising a side wall and a notch formed in the side wall,
• wherein the hammer head is configured to be coupled to or formed with a handle shaft, and
• wherein the notch extends generally parallel to an axis of elongation for the handle shaft.

A forged hammer head for a two-piece hammer, the hammer head formed in a forging process, comprising:

• a forged hammer face at one end of the head;
• a forged hammer claw at an end of the head opposite the face;
• and
• a forged side nail puller disposed between the face and the claw, the side nail puller configured to engage and pull a nail from a workpiece, the side nail puller comprising a side wall and a notch formed in the side wall,
• wherein the head has an eye-hole extending therethrough for receiving a hammer handle, and
• wherein the hammer head is devoid of any structure between the notch and the eye-hole.