‘Hammerschlager’ – the Local Rules –
Tonight we’re playing a variant of the Hammerschlager game made popular by Mike Siemsen at Woodworking in America. We’re playing at Rhinegeist brewing. Schlaging starts at 8 p.m. and ends at 10:30 p.m. The prize: The last of our “With Hammer in Hand” letterpress posters.
Hammerschlager is a game of skill played with a stump, a cross-peen hammer and nails. Two opponents take turns attempting to sink a nail using the peen side of hammer. The first one to sink the head flush or below the surface of the stump wins.
Here are the local rules for the game tonight.
- If you break or abuse any of the equipment (especially the hammers), you’re done – disqualified.
- You may face a particular opponent only once. Period. In other words, you cannot play against a person more than once. Once only you shall face a particular opponent. Don’t cheat.
- You start the stroke with the peen of the hammer resting on the stump.
- If the nail is knocked crooked, your opponent may straighten the nail to vertical before taking his or her turn.
- The loser of the round marks the winner’s forearm with a slash using a marker (provided). The person with the most marks at 10:30 p.m. wins the poster.
- The winner of the round is allowed to face the next opponent immediately. The loser has to return to the back of the line and find another opponent.
- All disagreements are settled by the judge (me). Decisions are final. It’s just a stupid game. Don’t make me hate you.
- This is not a drinking game. You may drink while you play if you like, but drinking is not required, requested, suggested or smiled upon. It’s just a dumb game.
See you tonight.
— Christopher Schwarz
