The Estwing Sportsmans axe (aka, E24A)... when was it first made by them?

PocketKnifeJimmy

PocketKnifeJimmy

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I have heard and read many folks stating that Estwing has been making the sportsmans axe for a very long time. My question is, what year did Estwing introduce this model... and, has it changed at all? Thank you in advance :)
 
A similar one was evidently around since the 1920s.
Advertisement in Popular Science, April 1927:
http://books.google.com/books?id=licDAAAAMBAJ&lpg=PP1&pg=PA104#v=onepage&q&f=false
The 1927 version has a notch for removing nails.
Otherwise, it looks the same as the one available today:


AO_leather_axe.jpg
 
Thank you, buddy!
Based on your above info, I searched online for similar ads/catalog pages... found this for 1930...

4ue97o.jpg


Very neat, including that they did their leather handles pretty much as done today!

I find that to be awesome! :)
 
I picked these items up at the flea market in Oldsmar, Fl a year or two ago. He said the axe, the knife and the helmt lamp went into the mine with him for years all before his 20 year old son was born.
 
It really is pretty amazing on how true they have stayed to the overall design during all these decades.
The only difference I can see in my recently purchased Estwing Sportsmans axe to the one you have pictured above... is that my newer one seems to have a thicker bottom rivetted steel plate... But, other than that... pretty much a dead ringer! Again... pretty cool :)
 
Btw, I have been seeing more of those Estwing fixed blade knives online as I do info searches on the axe. Thing is, it seems they were made in Finnland for Estwing, not US made. Otherwise, I was hoping we could convince them to break out with their old knife making equipment, and make us some knives! ;)
 
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Good stuff.... obviously even more old school :)

Of course Estwing is still using some old school methods, kinda what they did in the 1920's and 1930's. I know some firms have made hawks using investment casting.... and it likely won't be long until MIM evolves to be used for larger components as well.

So, yes, Estwing is pretty old school, but not so old school as to put themselves out of business... and finish off American jobs in the process... So, I, for one, am happy with their use of old school methods that are not so old they totally go DoDo bird :)

Thanks for sharing the video... was awesome! :)
 
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I wonder when they started doing the rubber handles.I have one i keep behind the truck seat that says patent applied for on the bottom of the handle.
 
PocketKnifeJimmy said:
Good stuff.... obviously even more old school :)

Of course Estwing is still using some old school methods, kinda what they did in the 1920's and 1930's. I know some firms have made hawks using investment casting.... and it likely won't be long until MIM evolves to be used for larger components as well.

So, yes, Estwing is pretty old school, but not so old school as to put themselves out of business... and finish off American jobs in the process... So, I, for one, am happy with their use of old school methods that are not so old they totally go DoDo bird :)

Thanks for sharing the video... was awesome! :)
Click to expand...

Your welcome Jimmy.
While I am not a fan of Estwing, I do think they have there place. They make about as durable a tool as you can get. Been around a long time and they have a following for a reason. I hope they can keep producing a USA made product. Its a tough market with most consumers just purchasing the cheapest product available.
 
I wonder if the one piece hammer and axes (head and handle all as one) was something already around when Estwing started up making their tools, or if it was something that they actually brought to the table as a new idea?
 
Btw, I was admiring my Estwing E24A Sportsmans Axe, and noticed the final finish that their grinding & belt sanding leaves behind. Just as the video I posted above shows, it's done on machines by worker's hands. The finish is pleasing for it being on a tool that will get whacked about at the campsite (or whatever other place). But, the finish shows the obvious "done by hand" signs. In other words, it shows a nice hand finished touch, but is not that close to perfection like machined by cnc offers. That is not to critic the product, quite the contrary, I love the hands on appearance it leaves behind.
Even their leather handles are only partially done with machines doing the work, with the final contouring and finish being applied using worker's hands.

Estwing has drifted most of their production to having the molded synthetic handles, which shows in the video to be much easier and I'm sure much more time and cost effective (while allowing better shock to the hands protection). That said, I could see them eliminating the leather grip altogether at some point. But for now, they keep making some products that look like items they made in 1925!!! Can you tell I find that pretty darned cool! :)

They may not be the best performing axe... but for general use at a camp or maybe even some backpack hiking, it would be hard to beat this hatchet in the strength and dependable tool catagory... And, it carries some history... and a made in USA pedigree :)
 
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PocketKnifeJimmy said:
I wonder if the one piece hammer and axes (head and handle all as one) was something already around when Estwing started up making their tools, or if it was something that they actually brought to the table as a new idea?
Click to expand...

Patent application filed in 1924 by Ernest O. Estwing, and the patent was granted in 1927:

Patent number: US RE16820 E

This invention relates to hand striking tools and implements...axes, hammers and hatchets.
The primary purpose of the invention is to provide an improved hand tool, such for example as an axe, hammer or hatchet, in which the head and handle are drop forged in one piece and so shaped and treated that maximum strength is obtained with minimum weight and material and the tool is well balanced and substantially unbreakable.

By this I mean that it is unbreakable when used in the manner and for the purposes intended for tools of this kind. By making the handle and head in one piece, the many objections to the conventional construction employing fastening means or devices of some sort for securing the head to the handle are entirely obviated. Moreover, according to my invention the handle is reduced substantially from end to end to a comparatively narrow elongated cross-section on the major axis of which is parallel with that of the head. This reduced cross-section throws the center of gravity in the head or close thereto, according to the style of the tool, which gives a highly desirable balance. This balance enables more eflicient use of the tool because the greatest weight being in the head enables the greatest degree of manual effort to be transmitted in the blow.

USRE16820-0.png


https://www.google.com/patents/USRE16820?dq=RE16820&hl=en&sa=X&ei=Lmi5U4jeEZDZoAT7lYKgAQ&ved=0CB4Q6AEwAA
 
Wow!... That was great info... Thank You!
So it seems that Mr. Estwing was the man to first come to the table with this design... really cool!!!

Loving the history! :)
 
PocketKnifeJimmy said:
I wonder if the one piece hammer and axes (head and handle all as one) was something already around when Estwing started up making their tools, or if it was something that they actually brought to the table as a new idea?
Click to expand...

The one piece was not a new idea. There where others makers doing it well before Estwing, Bridgeport the most common.

Those leather handles I find much better than the synthetic in feel. They look so nice and are an icon of there company may they never go away.
 
Hmm, I wonder how Estwing differed from whatever other firms were using one piece construction... I mean, there were likely other patents that they could not step on. Thanks again for adding to the knowledge base :)
 
wazu013 said:
I picked these items up at the flea market in Oldsmar, Fl a year or two ago. He said the axe, the knife and the helmt lamp went into the mine with him for years all before his 20 year old son was born.
Click to expand...

As I mentioned above, my modern day specimen seems to be a dead ringer to your decades old specimen. The only thing that caught my eye as being slightly different, is the thickness of the steel plate placed on the bottom of the handle. Mine seems a bit thicker. In any case, it really does look old school... blast from the past sorta thing :)

35l6hb6.jpg


"Estwing Manufacturing Company was founded in Rockford, Illinois, in 1923 by Ernest O. Estwing. Estwing was an immigrant from Sweden who settled in Rockford with many other Swedish immigrants. Estwing products are constructed of one solid piece of hardened tool steel for strength."

For those of you that have a Facebook account, Estwing is there under "Estwing Mfg.". They have a good amount more information about their company history and such on fb, than they offer on their website. So, if you're interested in reading more about their products and history, check out their fb page :)
 
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