I've used a got of trapping hammers since I've started trapping. I've used a hatchet, a Ground Hog, and a Sod-buster style hammer and all of them were either too light, or the blade bent. So I finally had Strained Chains Trapline Modifications custom make one for me.

It's an all steel construction, with a 3# head, and a AR500 steel digging chisel, 3+" long. The handle is 13.25" in length, reinforced with interior steel tubing, and complimented with a trowel 1.75" x 6." Overall length is 23.25"

Looks nice, 3 pound head works great. Heavy enough to do some serious digging and pounding but won't wear you out.

Looks solid.

I just use an old 3 pound steel hammer of my fathers.

I prefer the blade be straight off the back of the hammer myself, and I'd worry about the back corners of that trowel cutting into your hand/wrist when you're swinging it but if you're happy with it that's all that matters.

I used to have a great one my uncle made for me. 4 pound sledge, long fiberglass handle, and a section of flat steel welded on top of hammer for a digger. Uncle was a welder and was able to gain access to special equipment at work. Some sort of special super hardened weld tip on thst ground to a point flat stock and man it held a nice edge in hard and rocky soil.
I dont even recall whatever happened to it.
Today I have a standard hammer digger and it works OK but not as cool as something uncle made for me just for land trapping.
Jim

It looks extremely well built, but I agree, a straight blade off the back to get your trap bed sides vertical.

Beautiful work bit I'm not into alot of multi tools for the same reasons as ADC posted.

Never liked the curved blade idea. Just how some welders find it convenient to follow the chip head angle to weld a blade against.

After many years of working all types of ground I much prefer a pretty straight blade on all my digging tools like others have stated. I always have 3-4 hammer/digging tools with straight blades coming from the hammer with me at all times same as stake drivers. Good to carry a good hand chisel too at times for real bad frosted ground.

Once you have a curved digging hammer blade skip off of frozen ground or a rock etc. and come into your lower leg or shin you will most likely change your preference also. Don't like the shovel on the opposite end of my digging hammer either. A bit dangerous at times also. I like a hammer I can work hard with and not worry about things that could go wrong and hurt you. A convenient tool for a hobby trapper I suppose or beginner.

Tried the curved blade, went back to straight.

I made this one just as a back up to leave in the truck in case I leave my bigger one at a set. I just used what I had laying around. It's actually a section of 6" pipe I cut to form the blade so it's slightly rounded which adds strength but its also 1/4" thick. It really digs nice beds, also its a 3# head. Short handle though, just what I had.

I prefer at least a 5 - 6" blade to cut deep as is necessary for fall and deeper beds for winter trap bedding methods. I don't like scratching in a trap bed, takes too much time and effort.

I dig standing most of the time to get more power. I have gone last couple of years to using a sharpened straight edge tile or shingle removal type shovel. Two cut angled plunges at your desired depth and flip out the sod for my trap bed. Any fine tuning can be done with your hammer digger end.

Use hammer only when frozen. Spade or cookie cutter till then. Final touches are an estwing big face long brick hammer. Best I’ve ever used. And I’ve used most. Angled blades aren’t for me either. Just end up throwing crap all over you. That estwing isn’t like a regular brick hammer. Coon creek outdoors has a video on them. I’ve ran it for a few years now. Totally happy.

Same, love the brick hammer. Been using one for years. Small spade for me most of the time.

Nice fabrication though authortrapper.

Angled blades throw dirt back all over you...esp when striking a hard trap bed..

I’ll be honest, I haven’t had any issue with the Sodbuster hammer. I dig my trap bed with it and pound my stakes with it. My dirt holes are either done with a drill or the stake driver.

Agree with straight blade, as far as spade goes...Bob the corners off of the non business end of it, and you should be fine. Looks good.

2# Rip claw from habor freight. Buy 2 wield the nail pulling slot solid.

I have something very similar if not the same from Dakota line. I dont like driving stakes with it for reasons already mentioned-that trowel isnt fun on the back of the hand. But it does dig a mean dirthole and it can work as an auger with the hammer and chisel as a handle. And it will not break. Ill keep it around.

Bob, The one on the far left looks EXACTLY like my OGormans High Roller Hammer from the 1980 time period! Hard to believe it is 40 years old!

Seems like most trappers preference is a straighter tang on the back of their trapping hammer. If that's the case, why do the trapping supply companies continue building hammers with an angled tang?

Very good question. The first hammer I ever saw with a straight cutting piece was in the fine book by James Lucero. He explained that the straight cutting edge allows one to cut a straight wall in the trap bed. He felt that facilitated a bed that was easier to work with. That book came out in the 1980s, early I think. Many have picked up on the idea but I have not seen others mention Lucero's wolfer book. I suppose others certainly come up with the idea. I like a tile spade used as Bob J. suggested.

Mac

Also, the straight blade doesn't throw dirt and rock back into your face as bad

thskeer, That particular hammer has been around a long time. Probably since the late 70's early 80's at least. That thing has been to many states and dug lots of trap beds in my days. Tells you how old I am. I have done a few fiberglass repairs on the handle base as can be seen in the photo.

Back in those days of the early 70's all thru the 80's all I used was re-bars and dog knot stakes for cross staking and single long stakes etc. and some drags.

Every now and then a fella would have a poor aim and hit that handle a time or two near the base. It didn't happen often but that thing has some weight to it and can put a stake down good and fast. Still use it to this day. I use to use that hammer one handed now I use two on it. I was young then now I am not so young.

Trap supply companies aren't building them, they are cheap overseas imported hammers.

I do not like the combination gizmo hammer first posted. Too many things on the handles for all uses. A good handle is an important part of a tool.

In my opinion the best trapping hammers are Estwing Drilling and Engineer’s hammers. I buy them from Tom Stalker who customizes them with a digging blade that is welded on straight back. They do not throw debris back on me and easy to cut the edge making a crisp trap bed edge.

Plus, I enjoy working with nice tools, preferably made in the USA.

I like mine = from Josh at Fur Shed Its 6 lbs

This is the one I like, it's like a dead blow hammer.
Has 4 metal rods run up the molded handle.
Taking the shock out of hammering.

Ingenious design!

High Roller Hammer , sold by O'Gorman Ent. , since the early 80's