Restored Antique C. Hammond No. 1 Kitchen Cleaver Hatchet | Custom Purpleheart & Osage Orange

A masterpiece of working heritage, this late 19th-century C. Hammond No. 1 cast-steel hatchet head has been painstakingly restored and re-hung as a high-end custom kitchen tool. Tailored for heavy prep like cleaving poultry, breaking down primal cuts, and splitting tough squash, the head is mated to a hand-shaped, dense Purpleheart wood handle (Heartwood) secured with a high-visibility Osage Orange wedge. Hand-finished with food-safe oils and waxes, it combines historic American edge-tool metallurgy with striking modern hardwood craftsmanship.  

Detailed History & Craftsmanship

• The C. Hammond Legacy: Operating out of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania from the mid-to-late 1800s until moving production in 1914, Charles Hammond was legendary for producing exceptional cast-steel edge tools. C. Hammond hatchets were highly prized by 19th-century trade professionals for their heat treat, superior edge retention, and balanced poll geometry.  

• The No. 1 Pattern: The "No. 1" designation represents Hammond's smallest, most nimble hatchet pattern. Originally designed for fine carpentry and household utility, its compact profile makes it uniquely suited for modern culinary transformation as a heavy kitchen cleaver.  

• Premium Hardwood Fitment: Purpleheart (Peltogyne) is renowned for extreme Janka hardness, durability, and vibrant purple hue, offering maximum shock resistance during heavy chopping. The handle eye is locked in with an Osage Orange (Maclura pomifera) wedge—one of North America's hardest, rot-resistant woods—creating a contrasting visual accent and an unbreakable mechanical connection.

Dimensions & Weight

• Overall Length: 11.5 inches

• Head Length (Bit to Poll): 5.25 inches

• Cutting Edge Length: 3.12 inches

• Head Weight: ~1.25 lbs (20 oz)

• Total Weight: ~1.65 lbs (26.4 oz)