Dee, I am no expert, but here is my understanding: in some types of early smithies, a giant hammer was used to shape the metal. Often smithies were located along streams, which were used as sources of power to run the hammer. Some of my ancestors in Sweden were 'hammarsmeds' - hammer smiths. There were other kinds of smiths who worked at a smaller scale; in Swedish there are separate words, knipsmed and spiksmed, for people who made flat items, ie. knives, swords, etc., and nails. At the bottom of this page, there is a picture in which you can see the head of one of these hammers: _http://www.olofsforsbruk.nu/ofb/link33.htm_ (http://www.olofsforsbruk.nu/ofb/link33.htm) Hope this helps, Kelly Wash. DC In a message dated 6/14/2004 10:18:52 AM Eastern Daylight Time, [email protected] writes: I have question about 'Hammermen', workers of wrought iron at iron furnaces in the mountains of Virginia and Tennessee. Is a 'Hammernan' considered a blacksmith? Or is it predecessor trade? I have several generations of 'Hammermen' in my family to emigrated from England to work at Iron Furnaces in Franklin and Wythe Counties Virginia. I will appreciate hearing from anyone who has an insight into these questions. Dee Saul Indianapolis HYPERLINK "mailto:[email protected]"[email protected]