eastwing axe

RescueRiley

RescueRiley

Joined
Mar 22, 2006
Messages
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Gave my fiskars to a bladeless buddy who's gradually becoming a bushcrafter..saw a eastwing in the hardware store looks nice.. any good?? carbon steel? any thoughts? thanks.
 
in my limited experience they are pretty good. heavy, and the edge needs some work usually (but what doesn't?) but otherwise a good hatchet that you could throw anything at.

i also like the look of the leather stacked handle. nice and classic.

as far as i know, they are all carbon steel. perhaps a tad bit soft, but probably around equal to the fiskars steel.
 
thanks for the info Siguy..you can bet what ever axe I get will be coming your way first LOL
 
Hi rescueriley, i have both the leather handled sportsman hatchet, and the full size foresters axe. Both are brutal tough workhorses. Yes, you need to hit the edge with an axe stone, but thats par for the course for any edge. The estwings are the kind of axes you can beat all day, throw in the truck, loan it to your buddy because you dont want him to use your nice Iltis Oxhead or similar axes....

and if you ever break one, its been my experience that Estwing will replace it.

i'll post some pics of my long estwing axe later tonight.

i give them a 10/10
 
great review thanks... I'm thinking about a mid size one to use for the winter... I realized earlier today I'm goin on a crafting overnight on tuesday.. and I forgot I gave my axe away over the summer...I used a machet throught the warmer months but now that the weather is upon us the axe is king....
 
I've had the light axe for years.I have other Estwing tools also. They work well, very durable and they come with a sticker that says "Made in USA" !
 
I too have one that is on semi-permanent loan from my dad. He bought it almost 30 years ago and it's still going strong.
 
I picked one up just the other day, and yes the edge is horrible, but I like sharpening so I don't mind too much. :)
 
I have a 14a which will fit in the back pocket of my trousers, it acompanies a lot of the time. I had a 24a (that is the leather handled model carried in most hardware stores) and it performed wonderfully. The one which I plan to order is the 44a it is 17+ inches long and would probably be what is considered mid-size. No one local to me carries em so I'll have to order it online. They are fine axes and perform very well take an excellent edge and hold up really well under normal use. You should have no qualms about purchasing any of them.
 
I've had the Sportsman's hatchet (leather stacked handle one) since my Scout days. They may not have the "old timey" feel, but they've been around long enough that I'd consider it a "traditional" piece (my 60's-vintage Boy Scout Field Manual mentions them).

The Estwing web site mentions they are oil-hardened tool steel, so I'd guess, with the price being as low as it is, it's a common steel, probably O1.
 
I have the large one..and although I have worked the pissoutta it..I have to say..they hold an edge for about 30 seconds...kinda soft. Overall, tough and useful, but I say get a Wetterling for $15 more and go out with some class. Gene
 
Wow, that's one thing I've never heard about Estwings. Both the Sportman's hatchet and Camp Axe (26") hold an edge for me for a long, long time. Most people I know say the same thing. I think you may have got one with a bad, or no, heat treat.
 
I have had two for over thirty years. Both of mine hold their edge very well.
 
It was a good hatchet fo rthe money..I cleared quite a bit of brush with mine...I had to work it over pretty good every night. I think that an Axe dulls from use..all of them...if you are chopping for a while, they dull. IMO, my Estwing, dulled faster than my higher end axes..Why buy an Estwing, when you can get a Wetterling for about the same money? Yes they are tough, but the balance isnt great. They function, if thats what you want, then its great.
 
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