ESTWING Camper's Axe - 14" Hatchet with Forged Steel Construction & Shock Reduction Grip - EB-25A

Bought this for my son after my old axe head became too loose to pound back on. This small axe is perfect size for camping, the concave wedge shape of the head makes it easier to split wood and pull the axe out, and the one piece construction seems very sturdy. The edge is easy to sharpen and can get knife style sharp.The handle is comfortable to use and does not slip when wet, but I would prefer a leather handle like the other ESTWING axes since it begins to rub by your pinky if you use this axe when it is wet.Overall, great axe for camping and making bonfires and it is a much better quality axe than the Gerber Chinese made ones which chip the edge easily.

I know I keep saying to know the limits in my reviews but it is true.This little camping ax, or hatchet, is very sturdy and I know I'll never need another one just as long as I do right by it; if I do not push the limits.The weight is good. The metal/steel, whichever type it is, is very hard and sturdy. It is quite sharp out of the box. I enjoy it as one big molded piece of steel. It will certainly be on my side and I think I'll never need another one if I take care of it properly.

An axe that was passed down through the generations finally gave up the ghost when I tried to use the wooden handle as a lever to split a small tree stump. I carefully researched the various axes on Amazon for a modern replacement and chose this one. I was not disappointed. Here are the pros:1. Very sharp edge, beautifully polished2. One piece forge steel shaft - no more broken wooden handles3. Impact absorbing rubber handle, forget the leather stuff4. Sheath fits like a glove. It's designed to attach to your belt. Since the fit of the axe is tight it does take a bit of effort to remove the axe but once it's in there it's snug for walking or hiking.5. Good heft, not a light axe.I opted for the all black model, it's the cheapest. As my 60-year old axe with wooden handle lasted a while, imagine how long this Estwing one will!

This 14" camper axe is designed for camping and outdoor activities. It features a shock-reduction grip for added safety and comfort, a 3.5-inch cutting edge for precision cutting, and a lightweight 2-pound construction for easy carrying. Plus, it's proudly made in the USA.I was impressed with the quality of the axe when I first opened the package. The construction was solid, and the handle had a comfortable grip. The cutting edge was sharp enough for most tasks, and the 2-pound weight made it easy to carry.However, I found that the blade was a bit dull when I first received it. But after taking it to a local sharpener, it was sharpened to its optimal sharpness and made ready for heavy use.Overall, this 14" camper axe is a great option for camping and outdoor activities.

Came with a good edge, quality product, no issues

A thick and solid hatchet with a long past. I will mostly use the bottom portion of this blade from mid blade to bottom corner. I find when employing the bottom corner a bit, chipping out larger parts of a tree is easier and makes it quicker to get through. Landsky puck to bring it back to fully sharp. These are time tested. I don't mind if I get chips in the paint. I notice some people complaining about that. You slam into something hard enough the wrong way the coating is likely going to chip or scratch in a variety of different scenarios. I don't leave mine to get rained on so I could care less. As with any company there might be a defect here and there, but the amount I have seen these things beat on has proven this to be a great tool the vast majority of the time. Some people like to bash rare defects as a defining characteristic and instead of getting a good one, they opt out do to false assumptions of the overall product based on the initial purchase. Don't make it a practice to leave steel in rainstorms, that's for dumb people. I chop this thing into already quartered wood and hammer the back of it with another log to split smaller pieces. It takes a beating.

The axe came sharp enough for practical use if you intend to split small logs for firewood or need to get some pesky saplings out of your way, but the steel used is susceptible to damage easily if not sharpened enough to take on hardwoods. I had the unfortunate experience to encounter galvanized steel nails in a small log I meant to chop for the winter, but the damage isn't so bad that it can't be worked out on coarse stones. I'm using it for the purposes I've listed above, but I don't believe this to be practical for downing a tree bigger than, say, 16 inches across without needing to sharpen the blade again, just take care as the powder coating comes off if you don't have good sharpening technique. Would NOT recommend for sport throwing as the handle is likely to make it rebound if you're a novice and the balance makes it a bit more handle-heavy. Overall it's easy to handle, fairly durable (if you're observant unlike me), and makes for a great alternative to a wood handle hand axe if you want something you can take on a short camping/hiking trip. Great gift for that boy scout, if you're looking.

First class. A hatchet you will pass down to your grandchildren.