Estwing sports-mans hatchet

CVamberbonehead

CVamberbonehead

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Nov 6, 2017
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I have used a leather handled Estwing sports-mans hatchet for a long time, and it always bothered me that they put that awful lacquer over the stacked leather. It gives you blisters, and its ugly after a little bit of use and dirt. Today, I finally had enough. I sanded the stuff off the handle and put on a couple of coats of Obenaufs heavy duty leather protector. Its beautiful now and it feels so much better in hand!
All of this got me thinking, thats been a great hatchet. I have cut a ton of wood with it over the years, hammered tent pegs and nails (I regret the nails lol), chopped bone when using it on game I hunted, whittled with it (not its forte lol) and just generally used the snot out of it. I have been tempted by those sexy Swedish hatchets, but I just cant seem to part with my Estwing. Its not perfect but its a good jack of all trades (and indestructible), and isnt that the point of a hatchet?
What do you all think of the Estwings? Who uses these classic tools? Should I finally upgrade to something Swedish and painfully expensive? lol
 
CVamberbonehead said:
I have used a leather handled Estwing sports-mans hatchet for a long time, and it always bothered me that they put that awful lacquer over the stacked leather. It gives you blisters, and its ugly after a little bit of use and dirt. Today, I finally had enough. I sanded the stuff off the handle and put on a couple of coats of Obenaufs heavy duty leather protector. Its beautiful now and it feels so much better in hand!
All of this got me thinking, thats been a great hatchet. I have cut a ton of wood with it over the years, hammered tent pegs and nails (I regret the nails lol), chopped bone when using it on game I hunted, whittled with it (not its forte lol) and just generally used the snot out of it. I have been tempted by those sexy Swedish hatchets, but I just cant seem to part with my Estwing. Its not perfect but its a good jack of all trades (and indestructible), and isnt that the point of a hatchet?
What do you all think of the Estwings? Who uses these classic tools? Should I finally upgrade to something Swedish and painfully expensive? lol
Click to expand...
Why change something that works so nicely?
For your "hammering" needs go with US made Flying Fox with hardened poll :-) https://www.baryonyxknife.com/cotoha.html
 
I’ve been wanting a Estwing hatchet for a while, got lucky this past weekend and got one for cheap at a garage sale. Yes the handle finish is all chipped and ugly but the head and blade are nice and I love the feel of it. The favorite Estwing blade I own is the black eagle Tomahawk.The thing is badass and virtually unbreakable. It gets some hate but I sharpened it up nicely with a Lansky puck and I would hate to be on the other side of it. Of course it’s not that good of a chopper but that’s not it’s job. I also own the Estwing camping axe. One weekend when I was out of town my step dad used it on the yard and totally abused it. Came back to saw the edge just beat to hell and chipped. I haven’t really used it since then so I don’t have much of an opinion on it. I get the old Estwings hammers every time I see them at estate and garage sales. Good American company made in Rockford Illinois.
 
I read the comment about lacquer on a handle. Ok. When I started rebuilding old tools, I tried different compounds or chemicals. Having other priorities I did not routinely examine the wooden tools handles for drying out and to avoid rough spots/splinters and cracks. One day, I watched a knife video. The criticism was that the handle too small. Well, of course. People in the Artic region wear gloves. Then again, if wood handled tools were neglected, people would gloves at the hottest part of the summer. So, I modified all the garden tools from machetes to shovels so that gloves would not have to be worn. The solution: layer of electrician's tape on the handle and then a layer of tennis racket tape. This would also absorb some of the impact of a tool against another object.
 
I mostly throw my Estwing sportsman Hatchet, so it lives a hard life. I can get an accurate double rotation throw at around 20 feet. Thing hits like a mother. I can hit a playing card from that distance. Pretty sure that thing will go through a door or an interior wall no problems! Built like a tank. Destroys my targets and just keeps going!
 
I don’t know about the hatchet, but I have one of the leather handle hammers that I have been using for many years and don’t think you can do anything to hurt it. The hatchet looks like it is made the same way so I may need to check one out.
 
Does anyone know of a premium hatchet made like the Estwing? I think the design would be a good one for a blacksmith or the like to make, but I cant think of anyone making something like this. The only stuff I can think of thats similar to the Estwing is the old Western (and others) stuff. Ive seen the old hatchet/knife combos in the double sheath, and they were nice (if a bit small).
 
CVamberbonehead said:
I have used a leather handled Estwing sports-mans hatchet for a long time, and it always bothered me that they put that awful lacquer over the stacked leather. It gives you blisters, and its ugly after a little bit of use and dirt. Today, I finally had enough. I sanded the stuff off the handle and put on a couple of coats of Obenaufs heavy duty leather protector. Its beautiful now and it feels so much better in hand!
All of this got me thinking, thats been a great hatchet. I have cut a ton of wood with it over the years, hammered tent pegs and nails (I regret the nails lol), chopped bone when using it on game I hunted, whittled with it (not its forte lol) and just generally used the snot out of it. I have been tempted by those sexy Swedish hatchets, but I just cant seem to part with my Estwing. Its not perfect but its a good jack of all trades (and indestructible), and isnt that the point of a hatchet?
What do you all think of the Estwings? Who uses these classic tools? Should I finally upgrade to something Swedish and painfully expensive? lol
Click to expand...

Not a fan at all but I don't loath them like I once did (well not all of them). For driving smaller nails, trim hammers or roofing ect they make a product that will serve a guy well and for those that just need a tool that the handle won't break there is that.
An up grade would be a good vintage hatchet with a wood haft with the geometry to fit the task.
 
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