The hammer of choice for my personal daily usage of pounding, drilling, and hammering almost any type of surveying point or object into the hard earth. This tool has been a part of my arsenal for nearly 5 years and I have yet to replace or repair any part of it. You can easily find this particular hammer online, but my original purchase was from a surveying supply company called Kara.


Description

The Estwing Supreme 4lb Long Handled Crack Hammer (B3-4LBL). The head weight is approximately 4 pounds. The Estwing Shock Reduction Grip reduces the impact forces passed to the hand by about 50%. The extra long handle increases the impact force you can develop. The hammer is great for driving chisels and pounding hubs into the hard earth. You will rarely need a bigger sledge hammer.


Features

Round face, slightly tapered.
Length - 16" for quite a bit more than 4 lbs. of whack!
Head: 4 7/8 inches
Width Overall: 11 1/4 inches
Length Head Weight: 4 pounds
Total Weight: 4 pounds 9 ounces


Recommended Users

Blacksmiths
Mining
Forestry
Field Engineers
Land Surveyors
Geologists

I personally would not recommend this for carpentry usage or daily smaller projects that require finesse or higher accuracy with the weight and size of this particular hammer.


The Swing

With a longer handle and a heavy head the hammer itself does more of the driving work for you on every swing. Although the hammer itself is a bit heavier, nearly 5 lbs, once you get use to the weight and proper swing, it allows for an easier days work. The handle has a nylon grip handle which allows for shock & vibration reduction, which works great when slamming the hammer into a metal chisel or hard concrete surface. Even with the heavier weight of the hammer I can still control the swing to pound smaller objects like: tacks, *PK nails, and concrete nails without fear of missing my target, however I do not recommend usage of wood working or nailing as it is not meant for that type of work.

*PK stands for Parker-Kalon, and PK nails are used by surveyors to mark points in their work.


Durability

I personally have used the hammer for hitting 4ft wooden lath, hardwood oak/pine hubs, and steel chisels into the ground for over 5 years now. I also beat steel manholes that have been frozen over with concrete, ice, or asphalt to loosen the lids. The hammer has also been run over by a motorist, thrown angrily at concrete surfaces, and I have missed my target a number of times jamming the handle into the steel surface of a chisel, but she still keeps on working. Because the handle is composed of hard steel along with the head of the tool it continues to take harsh abuse and punishment without replacement or repair of both handle & head. I have found with extended periods of not using the instrument she has a tendency to rust up a bit, but that just means its time for me to get back into the field and put some points into the ground.


My Thoughts on Handles

I will not be able to stress the durability and fantastic quality of the hammers handle unless you understand that many wooden handles require replacement extremely often in my line of work. Most wood handles require replacement because of a missed swing, normal wear & tear, or rotting out. Along with wood people have been suckered into fiberglass handles, which in my experience leaves you with small slivers that irritate your skin after a missed swing. Plastic handles chip, ding, and do not reduce vibrations caused by heavy swings or hard hits. So a metal handle covered in a rubberized nylon grip, allows for a good grip, accurate hit, reduced vibrations, and strong durability to boot.


Final thoughts

The durability of the hammer is undisputedly my favorite aspect, along with a powerful accurate swing, and a great price point makes this particular tool a fantastic product. Admittedly I had some trouble using the hammer because of the weight at first, but forcing myself to use it on a daily basis allowed me to become accustom to the tool and I have yet to put it down since.


Other Tools I use on the Job & for my Career

TI-30XA Calculator

HP 33s Calculator

Keson 100' Steel Tape

Keson 200' Steel Tape

Craftsman 100’ Steel Tape

Keson 300' Fiberglass Tape

Craftsman 10 Pocket Nail Tool Bag

Olympia 8 Pound Fiberglass Sledge Hammer

TechPower Premium Battery for Trimble 5700 GPS Receiver Surveying Equipment


Recommended: Yes