Re: Estwing English Pattern
I've always wanted to pick up one of those, just because it's such an interesting melding of an American manufacturing concept and a classically British pattern, but haven't yet... I already own more hammers than I can use. I'm perpetually surprised and pleased they keep the British pattern in the lineup- I can't imagine they sell a lot of them. Dave, are there many/ any British hammer manufacturers left over there?
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I’ve always thought that it was more a question of offering a choice rather than a product for a particular market, but it seems you’re right! I’m glad they do. In that head style they offer regular or rip claws, and of course the blue cushion grip or the leather handle.
The big / dedicated hammer manufacturers over here have all gone. Brades disappeared way back, and Clydesdale Whitehouse more recently. I bought a Whitehouse ball pein hammer for my service bag when I was working in the defence industry in the 90’s. To be honest the quality was nothing like the older hammers. They made the classic mistake of so many British tool manufacturers of trying to compete on price, which they couldn’t. Used ones abound though, and a lot of folks are refurbing them. My local hardware shop tell me they sell far more hammer handles than new hammers!
The next biggest suppliers were always the firms like Stanley and Marples. Marples got amalgamated with Record, and sold to an American firm, who closed all the factories. Stanley obviously took a decision to take their products downmarket, so most of the patterns are still available, but are imported, and the quality is awful. The biggest Sheffield factory lies empty. Spear and Jackson offer hammers, but while some of their tools are British made, I’m sure the hammers are not.
Footprint hammers are fairly readily available. I have 2lb and 3lb ball pein hammers of theirs in my workshop which I bought new. I varnished the handles and polished the heads so they should stay good. My local builders merchant keeps Footprint cold chisels and bolsters, and Footprint club hammers to whack ‘em with!
A firm called Gibson Tools in Leeds seem to offer all the industrial patterns, such as club hammers, sledge hammers, fireman’s axe’s and railway key hammers. They seem to be serviceable.
Other than that, the biggest manufacturer is probably Thorex. They offer just about every variety of soft faced hammer out there, in every weight. Good tools and reasonably priced. I don’t know how other makers sell anything else here. But..., they only offer soft faced tools, not regular hammers!
Most decent tradesman own, or aspire to own, an Estwing, even though they have always been costly here! Nobody in the U.K. is hammering nails all day though. We don’t have timber framed houses, and you can’t afford to have a guy using a manual hammer all day on minimum wage. Air nailers, Gas nailers, Hilti guns, or even screws and a cordless driver, are everywhere!
I have traditional ‘Warrington’ pattern hammers that I use for woodworking, in weight’s from 4oz through to 16oz. Mostly British Stanley or Marples. Own a couple of new condition spares that I’ve bought when available. I have my Grandfathers Whitehouse 20oz claw hammer too, but if I need a claw hammer I generally use my Vaughan. The Estwing might start to take over though!
Nice hammer, I have the standard version. Found it at Lee Valley and just knew it was coming home with me.
