EstwingSpecial Edition Fireside Friend - Leather 14" Wood Splitting Maul with Forged Steel Construction & Genuine Leather Grip

I have 3 of these that I simply love. It’s made to be heavy yet quite manageable for splitting firewood and large camp sledge hammering jobs. You wouldn’t want to backpack with it but for anything else, it is great. This is the leather-stack handle model with a protective black coating on the metal shaft and head which holds up to the wet Washington State weather very well. A little coat of Linseed Oil on the whole thing when you are done with the tool and it will look like new for many many years. Over time my oldest one has some minor wear in the metal coat but I use it several times each day since I heat my home with wood from Autumn through Spring. The model I carry in my pickup toolbox is the synthetic handle model and it is equally excellent for any job requiring a lot of persuasion. It rattles around in my pickup and still looks like new. These are made in Rockford, Illinois, USA which is why I have never had to deviate from owning this tool. All of Estwing products are great for the job & Made in The USA. Might as well buy the best!!

I bought this because I needed a heavy duty hammer and hatchet for camping so this was the obvious choice. I made the mistake of buying a hatchet with a plastic handle which broke the second time I used it and the head nearly missed my leg and possibly an artery. Anything other than solid steel construction is a recipe for disaster for that very reason, especially in the wilderness. This thing is solid steel and has some good weight to it, great for splitting smaller logs or using as a mini sledgehammer. It's heavy so if you are looking for speed and don't need a splitter, buy something lighter. Estwing makes a large variety of products at a reasonable price and I highly recommend them.*Update* After 2 and a half years of heavy use as both a mallet and a splitter, this thing has stood up to the test in every aspect. The leather wrapped handle is also still fully intact. I plan on buying one for a friend for Christmas which prompted an updated review.

I've had mine for years. It's great for splitting wood for use in the pit or smoker. I usually split pecan and it works pretty well for most pieces. Great maul to have while camping. Best of all it is made in the USA or US steel and is super high quality. US steel is three times stronger than steel made in China so spend a little extra and get steel that's three times better while promoting US companies. Plus this thing just looks awesome!

Estwing makes great products, made in the USA. My son highly recommended it to me for chopping kindling wood. The only thing nicer is a Granfors which is far more expensive and longer.

I’ve owned the regular Fireside Friend for years and find it wonderful for splitting wood up to about 4”. I use it mostly for burning smaller brush from around our property. I wanted a second one for camping, so decided to splurge and pick this Special Edition up.There is no functional difference between the regular axe and this one, other than the fact that this one is beautiful. In fact, the grip of the regular one works just fine and won’t require any upkeep, so I suppose that it’s marginally better.Both are 5 Star functional splitters for smaller wood. There is no reason to spend extra money on the special edition other than it looks great. Your decision.

This is a heavy, perfect sized hatchet and feels awesome in the hands weight and ergonomically wise. It's sharp, easily chops kindling and feels like the good old tools that dad keeps forever.

This is a great tool that I use both as drill hammer and as a splitting axe. The 'stocked leather rings' handle is massive and comfortable, and its length is sufficient. Great value for money!One issue is the quality of the sheath. I took the new axe on a two week fieldwork excursion, and unlike the axe, which reformed well, the sheath lost two rivets and subsequently the stitches loosened up. As this tool needs a blade-cover, this is the only reason for the 4 star mark.I made a new leather cover in an hour, and I wish Eastwing could provide the tool with a massive leather sheath.

Nice heavy hammer. ok as a axe very good quality decent price