Picked up an Estwing hatchet...

Estwing for me is the Crack of handled tools. I can not pass one up at a flea market and when I am at home depot I fondle them like some derranged junky. My father only used Estwing hammers when I was a boy and he was a GC. I have since then always been in love with them.
 
I have an Estwing Camper's Axe, and an Estwing "Sportsman's Axe(?)" (the one with the leather handle). I like them because the head and handle are made from a single piece of steel. I'm rough on wood handled axes. (I miss occasionally, and wack the "target" with the handle.) I don't know whether they're forged or not, but they work great.
I just got a GB SMA, but the boiled linseed oil is still curing on the re-finish job I did on the handle, so I haven't used it yet.
 
Mete wrote:
I recently had to prove it [they wouldn't believe me ] but I roofed a house with cedar shingles using a hatchet at the age of 12 !!
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Did you use a shingle hatchet, or a rig-axe, or a normal campers hatchet? You're not supposed to drive nails with a camping hatchet, but I doubt that shingle nails would do much harm.
 
kvaughn said:
Ive got an old Estwing hatchet that I picked up at a flea market for 2$. The stacked leather was rotted and it was rusty. After removing the handle, cleaning on a wheel and convexing the edge I wrapped a handle out of 550 cord, making it a little thicker at the butt of the handle. --A Mora, my Estwing and a Leatherman and I,m ready for days in woods. Bladewise anyway!--Theyre great choppers! KV
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KV,

Very interesting. Could you share some pics?

Brian
 
I have used this 12 inch Estwing hatchet around the house for over 20 years. It was made here in Illinois.

My only complaint is that a wooden handled or rubber grip version would be easier on the hand during prolonged chopping sessions.

estwing-12in-hatchet.jpg
 
parnass said:
I have used this 12 inch Estwing hatchet around the house for over 20 years. It was made here in Illinois.

My only complaint is that a wooden handled or rubber grip version would be easier on the hand during prolonged chopping sessions.

estwing-12in-hatchet.jpg
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What about dipping the handle in some Plasti-Dip? That might work for ya.
 
XMP,
I have 14 grandsons. At my wife's suggestion, they each get a compass and a hatchet when they turn 8. They get a sheath knife when they turn 10. They also get a SAK (camper) in there somewhere. My den's walls are lined with pictures of grandpa and his grandkids (boys and girls, over 8) out shooting my pistols and 22 rifles. My son short my .308 at 8 and my 8 mm mag at 10. Who knows how long we can still do this. Last 4th of July I had 11 of them over to my house and tought all of them (well not the two year old) how to baton, and build a fire with only native material and fat wood, and a fire steel. No matches, no lighters.
If we want our way of life to continue, we need to be the first to teach it.
I spent 32 years as a scout master. It always amazed be how some kids could not have a knife or shoot a gun.
Ron Athay
Oh yea. I have had a 3/4 sized eswing hatchet (hunter's model) since the 60's. Haven't seen another one in years.
 
I've had a leather stacked estwing hatched for 5 or 6 years, very tough, easy to keep sharp no complaints here. I took a file to mine, then sandpaper, you can easily shave with it now. I was thinking about getting a fiskars or wetterlings but the estwing does just fine.
 
I got a leather handled Estwing for use in Scouts (a long, long time ago). It's a tad larger, but I prefer the 16" Camper's Axe to the 14" Sportsman's
ese44a.jpg

It's a smaller (correction: shorter, the head is the same size as the 26" Camper's Axe), and has the blue shock absorbing handle.

BUT, not quite as traditional as a good ol' stacked leather Sportsman's hatchet and a Buck 110.
 
treat you Estwing leather sheaths with a heavy dose of OBENAUFS LP!. use a hair dryer to melt it in, then work it by hand.

yes i love my Esty Ax and leather stack hatchet.

:thumbup::D

and RON, North America needs a hell of a lot more people like you. Thank you for leading and teaching young Scouts in this day and age of "everything is a weapon and must be banned!" .
 
Raymond , It wasn't an Estwing but a carpenters hatchet which I still have...I live in a 150 year old house that was modernized in the 1940s .The carpenter who did most of the work used an Estwing .He had gotten years of good work from it and it was well worn so he sent it to the factory to have it reconditioned . They were so impressed with all the use without any signs of abuse that they refurbished his and also sent him a new one !!!
 
I used to have a Riggers Axe which was great.
Long enough to have real swing.
And a real hammer head

Got stolen...
 
I've had Estwing hatchets since the late 1960s. Love 'em! I lean toward the blue nylon handles now for durability, but I have their large and small hatchets, plus a mason's hammer and several claw hammers of different weights, some curved claw and some straight claw. I prefer straight claw hammers usually.
 
I have a leather stacked hatchet my grandfather gave me. Still shaving sharp and in great shape after 35 years!! I carry and use the nylon handle Camper's ax while canoe camping. Otherwise, it lives in the back of my truck. I also have 2 Estwing hammers. A milled face 20 oz. rip hammer and a 16 oz claw. Both have done a lot of work! Oh, now that I think about, I have an Estwing rock hammer too :D
 
Neat, an Eastwing thread....I have used mine for years......it's my camp axe, myfireplace axe......I love it.
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