Estwing has been manufacturing hammers and other striking tools for a wide variety of industries since 1923. The company is headquartered at its manufacturing plant near Rockford, Illinois, near the Wisconsin border and some 90 miles northwest of Chicago. In addition to its line of tools for the earth sciences, Estwing also manufactures specialty tools used in building trades such as bricklaying, drywall installation and roofing.
Rock Hammers
A rock hammer is the symbol of the geologic profession, like a lawyer's briefcase or a doctor's stethoscope. Estwing supplies hammers in a variety of sizes and configurations. The tool is called a rock pick when it has a pointed tip for hard rocks (igneous and metamorphic) and a rock hammer if it has a chisel tip for sedimentary rocks. Estwing hammers are available in several weights and two handle lengths. All hammers have one-piece forged steel construction and a shock-absorbing, blue rubber handle. Estwing is also the only maker of the iconic leather-handled rock pick, whose handle is sheathed with a stack of leather disks instead of rubber.
Specialty Hammers
Besides its line of rock hammers, Estwing also produces several specialty hammers. This includes heavier (2-, 3- and 4-lb.) crack hammers designed for use with chisels and star drills. A 4-lb version is available with a long handle, as is a 3-lb. engineer's hammer. Estwing cross-peen hammers, produced in three weights from 24 to 40 oz., have a wedge-shaped head for splitting and crushing rocks.
Paleontology Tools
The head of the Estwing chipping hammer has a pointed tip on one end, but instead of a square, blunt head the opposite end is chisel-shaped. The chisel edge is oriented parallel to the handle, and is intended for use in splitting or chipping away layered rocks such as limestone or sandstone. The Estwing geo/paleo pick is a 4-lb. digging tool on a 2-foot handle. One end of the head tapers to a sharpened tip while the other reaches a broad, flattened triangular head for digging through soil and loose rock.
Chisels
The company markets four rock chisel designs, ranging from a sharp-pointed tip to a chisel edge 2 3/8 inches wide. All chisels are one-piece forged steel and have vinyl grips on the shanks for a more secure and comfortable grip.
Accessories
In addition to its line of steel tools, Estwing also markets accessory products for use by scientists in the field. These include nylon belt packs for field gear, a messenger-style sample bag, safety goggles and a holster for the geologist's rock hammer. The company also markets gold pans in both steel and plastic.
Tags: Estwing also, rock hammer, addition line, also markets, chisel edge, forged steel
