A long-serving member of Dain II's fighting force, Hammarhand has been slaying orcs and goblins all his life. He was one of the five hundred dwarves sent to the aid of Thorin when the Lonely Mountain was besieged by Elves and Men. In the aftermath of the Battle of the Five Armies, Hammarhand learned to respect the other races of Middle-Earth and developed a deep fondness for many of them.

As darker clouds still gather on the horizon, Dain II has sent out emissaries from the Iron Hills, desperately trying to forge alliances against the gathering darkness. Hammarhand, along with many other veterans of the multiracial battle, were the natural first choices for this task.

Hammarhand was given his moniker, however, at a much earlier date, and in much less glorious circumstances. Caught up in a war story told by his uncle, Hammarhand actually forged a piece of armor using only his gauntleted fist instead of his smithing hammer. He carries this misshapen piece with him as a good luck charm.