The drop-forged head, made of 1055 carbon steel, offers an ideal combination of hardness and toughness. Due to its carbon content, the material is less brittle than higher-carbon steels, allowing the war hammer to better absorb shocks and impacts when penetrating hard materials like armor without breaking or splintering. Furthermore, differential heat treatment ensures that the hammer face and tip are fully hardened, while the rest of the head remains softer to absorb the shock of heavy blows.