Garland Hammer

Garland Hammers: A Legacy of Soft-Face Striking Tools Made in the USA

When precision striking matters — whether in metalworking, woodworking, tool-and-die making, or automotive assembly — the hammer in your hand makes all the difference. Garland Manufacturing has been answering that call since 1866, making the brand one of the oldest continuously operating tool manufacturers in the United States. Their hammers and mallets aren't general-purpose pounders; they are specialized, soft-face striking tools engineered to deliver controlled force without marring the workpiece.

America's Only Manufacturer of Rawhide Mallets

Garland is the only USA manufacturer of rawhide mallets, and their all-rawhide mallets are made from tough, long-wearing water buffalo rawhide. This heritage goes back to the company's industrial roots — Garland's original products were machine parts for textile mills made of water buffalo rawhide, and by 1900 the company had begun making rawhide mallets and hammers, specialty striking tools used primarily for metalworking, tool & die making, leathercraft, and jewelry making. That unbroken tradition of working with premium rawhide gives Garland an expertise no competitor can match.

Key Hammer Lines from Garland Manufacturing

Garland's hammer lineup covers several distinct categories, each designed for a specific striking need:

• Split-Head Hammers: The signature split-head hammer is the timber framer's mallet of choice — when a face wears out, you swap it instead of buying a new mallet. Face sizes range from 1" to 2¾" in diameter, and faces are available in rawhide, urethane, Gar-Dur plastic, and nylon.
• Solid-Head Hammers: Solid-head hammers are designed for general-purpose applications such as assembly work, providing controlled, non-marring blows for use on steel, iron, brass, aluminum, and other soft metals.
• Rawhide Mallets: Built entirely from water buffalo rawhide, these mallets are ideal for situations where a hard-faced hammer would scratch, dent, or damage a finished surface.
• Plastic Mallets (Gar-Dur): Garland's plastic mallets are made from their own proprietary Gar-Dur ultra-high-molecular-weight plastic — a nonporous material that won't mar surfaces and is easy to clean.

Why Garland Hammers Stand Apart

All Garland products are manufactured in the U.S.A. to ISO 9001 international quality standards. Garland's specialty striking tools are utilized across metalworking, tool and die-making, leathercraft, and jewelry making, with applications extending into industries such as food & beverage packaging, automotive, pulp & paper operations, and material handling. The replaceable-face design philosophy — central to Garland's split-head line — means a single hammer handle can serve many different tasks simply by swapping faces, making Garland tools a smart long-term investment for serious craftspeople and production workers alike.

Browse the full selection of Garland hammers and find the right soft-face striking tool for your application, or explore everything Garland Manufacturing has to offer.