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A tool includes a blade having a working edge and an attachment edge opposite the working edge, a handle with distal and proximal ends and a body having at least one diameter. The proximal end is associated with the attachment edge. A hammer element is associated with the distal end, and a periphery

A tool includes a blade having a working edge and an attachment edge opposite the working edge, a handle with distal and proximal ends and a body having at least one diameter. The proximal end is associated with the attachment edge. A hammer element is associated with the distal end, and a periphery of the hammer element extends in a radial direction greater than the at least one diameter of the body.

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The invention claimed is: 1. A tool, comprising: a blade having a working edge and an attachment edge opposite the working edge, said blade defining a plane; a handle with distal and proximal ends and a body distinct from said proximal end having a generally elliptical shaped cross section and at l

The invention claimed is: 1. A tool, comprising: a blade having a working edge and an attachment edge opposite the working edge, said blade defining a plane; a handle with distal and proximal ends and a body distinct from said proximal end having a generally elliptical shaped cross section and at least one diameter, said proximal end associated with said attachment edge, said handle including at least an inner core and an outer core disposed over at least a portion of said inner core, said inner core connected to said blade; a hammer element secured to said handle inner core and associated with said handle distal end, said hammer element including an external lower edge abutting an outer surface of said outer core and defined by a central segment that is generally perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of said handle, and two end segments depending from said central segment that each define an obtuse angle with said outer surface of said outer core for dispersing impact forces acting on said hammer element in at least one of a lateral and an axial direction, and a periphery of said hammer element extending in a radial direction that is generally parallel to said blade plane and that is greater than said at least one diameter of said body, a portion of said periphery having a discontinuous, angled shape; and a first resilient material and a second resilient material each covering at least a portion of said outer core surface, an end of the first resilient material being configured to mate with an end of said second resilient material, said hammer element external lower edge abutting an outer surface of said second resilient material such that said end segments each define an externally visible obtuse angle with said second resilient material outer surface, said second resilient material outer surface configured for being gripped by a user during tool use; wherein said hammer element provides a protective formation for a user's hand when gripping the tool about an adjacent, relatively smaller diameter portion of said body, said hammer element also having end and side impact surfaces for selectively dispersing impact forces in said lateral and axial directions. 2. The tool of claim 1 wherein said at least one diameter includes a plurality of diameters of various sizes extending from said distal end to said proximal end, a largest diameter of said plurality of diameters being smaller than said periphery of said hammer element. 3. The taping knife of claim 1 wherein an axial length of said hammer element is in the approximate range of 20-25 percent of an axial length of said handle. 4. The tool of claim 1 wherein said handle has a generally elliptical cross-section directly adjacent said attachment edge of the blade. 5. The tool of claim 1 wherein said proximal end flares laterally greater than said periphery of said hammer element. 6. The tool of claim 1 wherein said proximal end includes two lips narrowing in thickness progressing from said proximal end to said working edge of the blade. 7. The tool of claim 1 wherein said second resilient material is corrugated or ribbed for improved gripping characteristics. 8. The tool of claim 1 wherein the tool further comprises a reinforcing plate covering a portion of said blade attachment edge, said inner core and said first resilient material each covering a portion of said reinforcing plate. 9. The tool of claim 1 wherein said handle body increases in diameter from said proximal end to said distal end. 10. The tool of claim 1 wherein said hammer element abuts said distal end, and has portions interlocking with said distal end for providing greater protection to said handle. 11. The tool of claim 1 wherein said hammer element has generally rectangular shaped opposing sides parallel to said blade plane and through which an eyelet extends, said generally rectangular shaped opposing sides including said lower edge abutting said outer surfaces of said outer core and said second resilient material. 12. The tool of claim 1 wherein said handle has an insert including a relatively hard portion having a raised logo and a resilient portion surrounding said raised logo and being flush with an upper surface of said logo. 13. The tool of claim 1 wherein said hammer element is made of a harder material relative to said handle. 14. A tool as defined by claim 1 wherein said handle distal end has a plurality of lugs configured to prevent rotation of said hammer element relative to said handle, and wherein said hammer element has a corresponding plurality of holes configured to receive said plurality of lugs. 15. A tool as defined by claim 1 wherein said hammer element has at least one barbed peg, wherein said handle inner core is configured to engagingly receive said at least one barbed peg. 16. A tool as defined by claim 1 wherein said hammer element further includes a barbed peg extending from an angular step, said handle inner core configured to receive said barbed peg and said angular step, said angular step configured to increase engagement surface area between said hammer element and said handle inner core. 17. A tool, comprising: a blade having a working edge and an attachment edge opposite the working edge, said blade defining a blade plane; a handle with distal and proximal ends and a body having at least one diameter, said proximal end associated with said attachment edge, said handle having a generally elliptical shaped cross section and an inner core that is connected to said blade and at least partially covered by an outer core; a hammer element made of a harder material relative to said handle, associated with said distal end and secured to said inner core, said hammer element including a first pair of opposing sides arranged generally perpendicular to said blade plane, and a second pair of opposing sides arranged generally perpendicular to said blade plane, an eyelet extending through said first pair of opposing sides, said first pair of opposing sides further including an external lower edge extending past said eyelet toward said handle proximal end and abutting an outer surface of said outer core at said handle distal end, said lower edge defined by a central segment that is generally perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of said handle, and two end segments depending from said central segment that each include three facets and define an externally visible obtuse angle with both said central segment and said outer surface of said outer core for dispersing impact forces in at least one of lateral and axial directions, said hammer element including a periphery formed by said first and second pairs of opposing sides, said periphery having a discontinuous, angled shaped formed by said lower edge; a first resilient material and a second resilient material each covering at least a portion of said outer core outer surface, an end of said first resilient material being configured to mate with an end of said second resilient material, said hammer element external lower edge abutting an outer surface of said second resilient material such that said end segments each define an externally visible obtuse angle with said second resilient material outer surface, said second resilient material outer surface configured for being gripped by a user during tool use; said handle having a generally elliptical cross-section directly adjacent said attachment edge; and said proximal end flares laterally greater than said periphery of said hammer element and extends over a portion of said blade; wherein said hammer element provides a protective formation for a user when gripping the tool about an adjacent, relatively smaller diameter of said body, said protective formation having end and side impact surfaces for selectively dispersing impact forces in said lateral and said axial direction. 18. A tool as defined by claim 17 wherein said hammer element has at least one barbed peg, wherein said handle is configured to receive said at least one barbed peg, wherein said hammer element has at least two holes, one each on opposite sides of said at least one barbed peg, and wherein said handle distal end has a plurality of non-barbed lugs configured to be received by said plurality of holes and to resist rotation of said hammer element relative to said handle. 19. A tool, comprising: a blade having a working edge and an attachment edge opposite the working edge and defining a plane; a handle with distal and proximal ends and a body having at least one diameter, said proximal end secured to said attachment edge, said handle including at least an inner core connected to said blade, a relatively rigid outer core covering at least a portion of said inner core, and a first resilient material and a second resilient material each covering at least a portion of said outer core, an end of the first resilient material being configured to mate with an end of said second resilient material; a hammer element made of a hard material relative to said handle, being associated with said distal end, and a periphery of said hammer element extending in a radial direction along said blade plane greater than said at least one diameter of said body for providing a protective formation for a user's hand grasping an adjacent relatively smaller diameter portion of said body; an axial length of said hammer element being in the approximate range of 15-30 percent of an axial length of said handle for providing a striking surface on an end and sides of said hammer element, said hammer element having a plurality of holes and a barbed peg configured to be received by said handle inner core, said hammer element having a plurality of holes and a barbed peg configured to be received by said handle inner core, said hammer element having a non-circular cross-section defined by a first pair of opposing sides arranged generally parallel to said blade plane and each defining a central segment, and a second pair of opposing sides arranged generally perpendicular to said blade plane, said second pair of opposing sides each including an end segment that depends from said central segment and includes three facets, said hammer element abuts corresponding outer surfaces of said outer core and said second resilient material at said handle distal end to form at least one externally visible obtuse angle relative to said distal end for dispersing impact forces acting on said hammer element in at least one of lateral and axial directions, said at least one obtuse angle being defined on said first pair of opposing sides, said first and second pair of opposing sides forming a periphery, wherein a portion of said periphery has a discontinuous, angled shape; said handle having a generally elliptical cross-section adjacent said attachment edge; a plurality of lugs on said handle inner core and configured to be received in said hammer element holes and configured to resist rotation of said hammer element relative to said handle, said lugs and said barbed peg being linearly aligned with each other to form a common plane; and said second resilient material being textured for improved gripping characteristics.