Possible Clues:

• It's applied to a nail
• It may knock a lot down
• The one to drive one home
• The former USSR'S emblem was the ...... and sickle
• Nail-driving tool
• Come under the . . . . . . - be for sale at auction
• Gavel, small mallet
• Go at it . . . . . . and tongs, with great energy and noise
• What a blow that this delivers more of a swine, by the sound of it
• Ear's malleus, nonmedically