Abstract: A nail forming machine having a rotary transport ring for receiving axially elongate cut wire nail blanks and transporting the nail blanks to and through a forming station with the axes of the nail blanks carried by the transport ring disposed in axially parallel alignment with the axis of rotation of the transport ring. A clamping ring is supported for rotation within the transport ring. Radially outwardly open clamping recesses formed in the peripheral surface of the clamping ring cooperate with associated radially inwardly open nail receiving recesses in the inner peripheral surface of the transport ring to clamp a nail blank therebetween as the nail blank is conveyed through a forming station by the transport ring. A circumaxial series of reciprocally moveable forming plungers are supported for rotation with the clamping ring.