[TheForge] How did the cross pein hammer come to be the standard?

[Peter Fels And Phoebe Palmer]

*Being kinda uncoordinated, i find I can control hammer placement with a 
cross pein better when it's critical . I just bury my elbow in my side 
and swing a short consistant arc. Though there are a couple of straight 
piens in the rack, they seldom come out to play.          PF*

Jerry Frost wrote:

>I was hoping somebody had a better answer than I do.
>
>I'll say up front I don't know how the cross pein became "standard" but I
>have a "theory."
>
>The same question has come to mind often enough, I use the straight pein a
>lot more often than the cross pein. I've brought it up any number of times
>and while most people don't even know what I'm talking about a few do.
>
>Of the answers I've gotten these are the most common:
>
>1) Cross pein used to pein lid edges over rims of cans, barrels, etc. like
>the old steel mastic buckets and such.
>
>2) Cross pein used to knock flanges loose or together while pipe fitting.
>
>3) Cross peins are used drive banding or similar things onto shafts.
>
>Outside of blacksmiths I haven't run into anybody who uses a straight pein.
>
>My theory is this; A straight pein is no longer an industry standard hammer
>because it no longer has a common job, while a cross pein does, even if in a
>limited manner is still commonly used.
>
>Of course I could be wrong.
>
><grin>
>
>Frosty
>------------------------
>If it ain't forged
>it ain't real.
>Wrought iron is.
>The FrostWorks
>
>Meadow Lakes, AK.
>
>
>----- Original Message -----
>From: <xlch58 at swbell.net>
>To: "Sponsored by ABANA" <theforge at mailman.qth.net>
>Sent: Tuesday, December 21, 2004 3:31 PM
>Subject: [TheForge] How did the cross pein hammer come to be the standard?
>
>
>  
>
>>As I was forging today, I noticed how often I reach for a straight pein
>>hammer, but rarely use the pein on my cross pein.   Watching other
>>smiths it seems they also reach for a straight pein or 45 degree pein
>>most often.    So I was wondering how the cross pein came to be the
>>standard and how it became associated so closely with the smith?  Anyone
>>know?
>>
>>Charles
>>
>>_______________________________________________
>>Manage membership or unsubscribe at:
>>http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/theforge
>>theforge mail list group photo site is
>>http://www.photoaccess.com
>>Login:  blacksmithblacksmith at hotmail.com
>>password:  anvil
>>___________
>>
>>
>>
>>    
>>
>
>_______________________________________________
>Manage membership or unsubscribe at:
>http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/theforge
>theforge mail list group photo site is
>http://www.photoaccess.com
>Login:  blacksmithblacksmith at hotmail.com
>password:  anvil
>___________
>
>
>
>  
>