Handcarved Curly Maple Hammers for Hammered Dulcimer

Description

I here offer a new pair of
Hammered Dulcimer Hammers
I recently
carved
from a single piece of
Sugar Maple
that I found in my stack of firewood.
When I had time to study it, I found the figuring to be particularly bold and charming.  This is the same block of Sugar Maple that carved a nearly identical pair of hammers from; however, this pair doesn't come close to being identical. They do not share any similar figuring except perhaps a bit on opposing sides of the head.  One hammer is even a tiny bit darker in color than the other.  Yet, they came from the same log.
These hammers are just
a bit over 8 inches in length
, but together they only weigh 0.6 ounces. They are also perfectly balanced at a point right in front of the grips, where it approaches the stem   Adding leather dampeners will change this balance, of course.
The Curly Maple I usually see is Red Maple, but this is actually Sugar Maple - a stronger, more dense wood.  It takes a bit longer to coax a set of hammers from Sugar Maple than from Red Maple.    Studying the more figured hammer closely will reveal that it was once broken and repaired right at the highest point in the arch of the stem.  This happened as I was completing the final rough sanding.  Iwas holding the stem securely to sand the final head shape when I felt the stem release itself from my grasp.  It took me several tries to shorten and reattach the 2 halves in a way that was nearly invisible.  The glue joint is very long compared to the width of the stem, so the repair is as strong or stronger than the unglued stem. I expect that if this stem breaks, it will not be at the glue line.  Woodworkers reading this will know what I mean.  For many others, the glue line would not have been found if I had not mentioned it.
Like with all the hammers I make, I do not glue leather onto the striking faces, but I do include several select pair of leather strips so that the buyer can glue them on if or when desired.
I will guarantee to replace any hammer that breaks
,
while being played,
within one year of purchase.  If they are misused, stepped on or children are allowed to mishandle them, well, that is on you.  But if they fail
while being played
, then ship them both back, and I will replace the broken one as close as I can to match the other.  I will pay to ship the hammers back to you after replacement.
Check out my history of feedback as far back as you can find, and I think you will agree that there are no better hammers to be found on eBay.  Some extremely happy buyers have returned time after time.   I sold 14 pairs of hammers last year to the same buyer, over a 3-month period.
Good luck on your search for new Hammers for your Hammered Dulcimer.
W.