Is there a special use for this wood mallet?

[frogpatch]

I found this over the weekend at an estate sale. It was in a box of tools in a basement full of tools. It is quite old and has been well used. Is there a specific reason for the head to be cone shaped? There is also a hole in the face of the head which may have been from a lathe but maybe not. What do you think it was used for. It is the size of any common mallet or hammer.

[frogpatch]

One more pic

[Rauville]

To me it looks like a "planishing hammer", to be used with a leather anvil to shape light gauge metal sheets?

[frogpatch]

I believe you are right Rauville. You also told me what the weird metal hammer is that I have. So two hammers down with one answer. I use an old mallet to pound out boneless chicken breasts and braciole. I will have to re-purpose this one too. I don't do much sheet metal work. I would like to know what Mart would do with it.

[mart]

I am with Rauville on this one !!  Whatever it is ,,it was used to round out or curve something !!

[Pelady]

My Dad is a "tin knocker"  or sheet metal worker and he has wooden hammers like this.  He would use them to create curves by pound the metal but rather than a leather anvil he would use sandbag.  You set the sandbag in a convex and concave  shape that you needed.

Pelady

[mart]

Nice find !!  I love old tools you know !!

[KC]

Nice.