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Estwing Camper’s Axes – A Gear Review

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Estwing Camper’s Axe

One of the handiest tools to have around is good ax. As I’ve admitted to in the past I’m a bit of a blade junkie and unfortunately that runs to axes as well. I’ve got both the Estwing E44A 16-Inch Steel Campers Axe and the Estwing E45A Campers Axe Metal Handle, they are fine axes and I can recommend  them to anyone in need of an ax.

Estwing E45A Camper’s Axe

The Estwing E45A Campers Axe Metal Handle is the big boy of the two. I bought this one first. I lusted after it for a while before I pulled the trigger on it. I spent one to many days in Home Depot swinging this one over my head like a modern day Conan before I brought it home with me. I took it camping with me shortly after buying it. I found out that even though it is called the Camper’s Ax it is a bit to big for camp chores. I split some wood for the fire with it and found that I couldn’t choke up enough  on it to feel comfortable giving  it a one handed swing. It worked fine with a small sledge but for camping I like some thing a bit more manageable. This axe really shines at home. I’ve used it for limbing trees, hacking through roots, and for general destruction.

  • Estwing campers steel axe with metal handle and nylon vinyl shock reduction grip
  • Intended for felling trees, trimming trees, splitting wood, notching timbers and driving wooden or plastic stakes
  • The 4-Inch cutting edge makes deeper faster cuts and easier chopping
  • Includes embossed leather sheath
  • 26-Inch approximate overall length at 4.3-Pound

 

Estwing E44A Camper’s Axe

The Estwing E44A 16-Inch Steel Campers Axe is another fine cutting tool. I got this one after I found out that I would probably lose a few fingers if I kept trying to swing the big axe one handed. The smaller one makes a fine Camper’s Axe. It swings easily with one hand and splits kindling with ease. I use all year round for camping and for keeping my wood burning stove in kindling. It doesn’t quite have the feel of it’s big brother for out right Zombie Apocalypse cred but it gets it’s jobs done.

  • For felling, trimming trees, and or splitting wood, notching timbers, and driving wooden or plastic stakes
  • Sheath included to protect axe while not in use
  • Steel blade
  • 4″ approximate cutting edge
  • 16″ approximate overall length

They both share the same head. It is a nice thin design which takes a nice edge. The flat edge on the back can be used as a make shift hammer or a nice target if I’m using them with a 3# sledge for splitting kindling.

All things considered they are both good axes. The smaller one lends itself better to camp chores while the larger one is a better general purpose axe. If I had to do it again I might only have the smaller one to tell the truth but, they are both well made and get the job done.

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Comments

  1. Congrats, Matt on winning the DVD.

    RE: the photos…they look great. Sharp and well composed. The axe’s look a little rusted, being steel, I’m wondering if that’s alright or if they should be coated with something every now and again to prevent that from happening. I’ve always been taught that rust was not a good thing, even on the surface, of ones tools.

    • Thanks for the input on the photos. I’m trying to upgrade my photography skills a bit.

      The axes both need a bit of TLC. My shed leaked a little this year and both axes developed a bit of rust. I’m going to give them a nice cleaning and sharpening soon as part of my winter tool rehab.

    • bought an axe because always had hammers carpenter and mason that worked well.axe had thin handle felt good but scared me and they said warranty covered it cause as an axe I worried it would bed when it stuck in wood compared to hammers, well it never bent just broke off one day chopping down onto a piece of wood and they wouldn’t cover it,I will never buy another Estwing product or recommend them

  2. I own the E44. Quite happy with it. It’s a bit heavier than a woodhandled axe but the extra weight is definitely worth it for the one piece of steel durability factor. I use it around the yard, woodpile and take it on long back country canoe trips and never have to worry about breaking the handle ever. I sharpen mine with nothing more than a pocket carbide knife sharpener. Holds an edge quite well. I wipe mine down with a little gun oil now and then to help keep it rust free. Great axe. Will last forever. Definitely worth every penny.