Fiskars vs. Estwing - which one?

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plowboy

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I know that many of you that hang around this forum get tired of these questions, but I ask for your patience and help.

I want your opinion (those of you that have spent time with both) on the Fiskars camp axe vs. the Estwing camp axe. I know that neither of these are up there with the GB, Wetterlings or Oxheads, but for a woods bumming axe which would be better. Primarly will cut both seasoned and green woods.

Which one will make shavings better? How does edge retention compare. Is one tougher than the other? Is handle durability better on one vs. other? If needed, which one is most likely to survive great hardship?

Again, forgive me for asking a "which one" question, but I look forward to your input.

Thanks,
:)
 
Estwing will win every time in a long term survival contest between these two axes.

The Estwing is much heavier than the Fiskars due to its drop forged steel construction.

Edge retention on the Estwing is very good, Fisksrs edges have a tendency to chip unless reprofiled to a convex edge.

Fiskars are excellent value for an inexpensive light hatchet. Estwing is i n a whole other class being made to be a very durable tool. While they are not ha nd forged as a GB they are still a very high quality tool of a completely different design.

The most common EStwing is the 24a which is the hatchet seen most often in hardware stores etc. They make one which is smaller that can be ordered over the internet. They also have a 19" or so in length axe that is great the 44a, It should meet your needs if you want something more than just a hatchet.

Don't be fooled! The Estwing axes are every bit as funtional as GB's etc. Plus you will never have to replace the handle.
 
I have a 3/4 size Estwing that served me well through several hurricane clean-up projects.That and a chain-saw.
I abused that beast for many years and it's still kicking.
I have the small hatchet as well and it works fine.
I'm no bush-craft expert but as a survival tool Estwing kicks butt for the money.
 
i have asked myself a similar question before. between these two axes i would go with the estwing for its full handled design. fiberglass is very tough but should you break the handle, that fiskars is going to be a big pain to replace. but, i think if you are trekking anywhere, i would go with the fiskars as the estwing's handle is a lot of weight that is not being put to good use when swinging it and is only dragging you down when packing it somewhere. in my opinion, go with an axe that has i good reputation and wood handles. easy to find, and in an absolute, shit hit the fan situation, you can make another handle from scrap wood. hope this helps brother.
 
Thanks to all of you. Seems the Estwing gets a bit of nod. I understand what you're saying about weight while trekking, savageknives.

If anyone else wants to weigh in, I welcome your sharing knowledge with me.

Thanks again.
:)
 
No experience with the estwing but I've had a fiskars/gerber hatchet for a few years now that works great. The taper is very thick and it splits wood for fires quickly and easily. I was fooling around with my sharpening kit this past weekend and I got it so that it would shave hair off of my arm. It does seem to dull quickly but it will take a very sharp edge just as fast.
 
I use a Fiskars. I have beat mine enough to be satisfied that it is pretty tough, if the handle breaks I think it would be easier to replace than a wooden handled hatchets handle, and I have had enough leather handles fall apart,wood handles break at the head and be real hard to remove from the head before you can even think about replacing the handle,inexpensive all metal shafts that bend(especially the tubular ones),and cheap rubber grips that melt with a little deet or disintegrate with some age in the sun that I put my money for an inexpensive user hatchet on the synthetic handle of the Fiskars.
 
Thanks, m.

I know that many folks have used Fiskars hard with good results.

I appreciate your help.

:)
 
I own and use both and in terms of durability and long term cutting, the Estwing wins hands down. The additional weight and good edge retention mean it slices through limbs better than the Gerber. The Gerber handle has never let me down but in use I find it is nowhere near as effective. Just my .02 anyways.
 
estwing without a doubt!
I've got two of the small campers, one is mine and the other I inherited from my father in law. Mine gotta be pushing 45 and pop in laws is probably closer to 50.
i also have the full size camper and it's got to be about the same age as the two small campers, all are well used but still will chop wood with the best of them!:cool: :thumbup:
 
Thanks Gespenst and b.thomas.

The edge seems to be swinging more and more to Estwing. Actually, I just got one today (the big camp model).

I appreciate all of you sharing your thoughts with me.
:)
 
David L: Can I ask why you all recommend a steel handled hatchet? That puts a lot of vibration back into the elbow and arm.

David, I favor Estwings because I've swung their hammers for years as a pro carpenter, and their rigging hatchet just feels good to me. I think the vibration thing and whether it bothers you is unique to each individual and their method. I know that it bothers some people a lot, but it never bothered me.

One nice thing about the fiberglas handle is that it doesn't rust, and I've seen and owned some pretty rusty hammers/hatchets over the years. If you can find an old f'glas Vaughn rigging hatchet, I think it'd be heavier and more sturdy than the Fiskars.

But the best way to choose is to try each one for yourself, because it really depends on your personal preference.

Like your sig line, BTW

Parker
 
The smaller Estwing, the 14A is a great one for carrying. The only thing I have found about the Estwings though, is that they have a thin grind. This is good for chopping and cutting, but they don't split wood very well. Especially green wood. The Fiskers is probably better for splitting, but not for chopping. I would go with the Estwing. I have about 6 of them.
 
catspa,

Thanks. Good answer. I have an old Estwing fiberglass hammer that is probably about 18 years old and I love it. If I could find an Estwing Hatchet with an all wood handle or a fiberglass one I would love it.

For me I used to have an old Craftsman steel handled hammer and at the end of the day I could feel the difference. I think the fiberglass is best but that's just me. I used to do plumbing and we'd have to nail up a lot of 2x4's where the shower head would go so we would have something to mount the 'wing elbow' to. We were doing a 50 unit of apartment buildings when I found that I didn't like the steel handled hammer. ;)

Back to the hatchets....I think I'll try an Estwing and see how I like it. I can get one at my local Home Depot.
 
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