ESTWING Fireside Friend Axe - 14 Wood Splitting Maul with Forged Steel Construction & Shock Reduction Grip - E3-FF4 and E-5 5 Lb Sure Split Wedge , Blue

I went on YouTube prior to purchasing to see how well it was performing. For splitting kindling, this works. There’s no magic behind it. It just does. For those complaining about imperfections on the paint, it’s a tool. If you use it, it doesn’t matter.

I have been a fan of Estwing tools for close to 50 years. I have worked in the geology field when I was in college. I have been a rockhound for many years. Im trained and have worked as a machinist for decades. My go to hammer in the machine shop is the 8oz ballpien. Im currently gearing up to do more processing of firewood at my country house in case the world is plunged into a depression because of the COVID 19 virus. I have enough timber on my property to be self sufficient for years. Fortunately, I have 3 fireplaces in my drafty old farmhouse. I have relied on Estwing tools for most of my life and own just about everything they make except the Fireside Friend. There are no better tools available at any price.

Nice axe. Heavy and chops nice. Nice sheath. I wanted the limited edition but the blue is nice. I would buy again.

What a gorgeous Axe! Made so well. Nice looking. Very strong for a 14 axe, I am very impressed. LOVE and highly recommend. What a great gift!!

I wasnt sure what to expect when I ordered this, but what I got was a baby splitting maul. If a couple of full-size splitting mauls got together and had a kid, this is what it would look like. This thing is perfect for those tweener logs, the ones that dont require an 8 or 10 pound maul but are too big to split with a small axe or hatchet. I bought this for camping and it is just what I needed. Most campgrounds these days wont let you cut nearby firewood, but they do have some for sale. Problem is, whoever cuts that stuff doesnt split any more than they have to, so you end up with some 6 logs that you cant just throw on the fire. And a hatchet just wont do it; its not heavy enough. But this thing, even though its only 14 long you can grab it with both hands and reduce a 6 log to kindling in no time. Painted on the 4 lb head are the words Fireside Friend Splitting Tool, and thats exactly what it is. I love it!

Nice small splitter for the campfire. I bought this for splitting wood into kindling for my camp woodstoves. It works perfect for the job. Much safer than the sharp axe and more convenient too. The paint will start coming off after the first split but its what you would expect from any painted tool that contacts rough surfaces. I would definitely recommend this for small kindling chores around camp. I dont believe for a minute it is designed to split very large pieces. I like it, it works and I would certainly buy it again.

Like all Estwing products Ive owned, this delivers on all fronts. Id hesitate to strike the hammer end with another iron or steel hammer as it will likely damage the surface if done repeatedly. The edge is good right out of the box and it comes with a very nice sheath. I paired it with an Estwing splitting wedge, and the pair of them go through everything from pine to hickory up to 14 inch diameter logs. It is short enough to use in the shed (when the weather is bad) and get a good swing, and long enough to bring sufficient force to bear on the wood when splitting. This would make a great gift for the person who wants to split their own firewood or kindling.

Beautiful gold pigment but my sister and I had a heck of a time peeling it off. It pulled my skin like nobodys business and made us red after use. I have sensitive skin so I was red longer. I think its a good mask if you dont have sensitive skin.

Heavy but small

Im a 61 year old woman and heat with a wood stove insert. After received my 4 cords of oak, I recognized that my hatchet and sledge wasnt going to cut it (pardon the pun). My wood guy lost his crew, so he was flying solo. Add to that the rash of wildfires we experienced, I was fortunate to get what I asked for. The wood was my requested 16 length, but the diameter was insane. I ended up with two new splitting logs, but many logs were 15-20 diameter! I had to split them - and did I mention they were still a bit green?? I ordered this maul and it came early. My only recommendation is to have it sharpened first, and then to get to work. I made it through all four cords of wood and now Im looking for other stuff I can play with. Its a powerful tool, but super-easy to use. Highly recommended.