About Estwing
It’s difficult to comprehend the sheer number of projects that have been completed, homes that have been built, outdoor adventures that have been impacted and trees that have been felled using Estwing handtools over the course of our 100-year history. But one thing is for sure: Estwing has played a key, historical role in the way that hammers, axes, picks and pry tools are designed, manufactured and used, making them more ergonomically efficient, comfortable and longer lasting. And we will continue to proudly push the boundaries of performance, quality and design as we move into our next 100 years!
Our founder: Ernest Estwing
Ernest Otto Estwing was born in Öland, Sweden in 1885 and emigrated to the United States when he was 16. An enterprising, industrious young man, Ernest settled in Rockford, Illinois, where he enrolled in night school to learn English and master the machinist’s trade.
At 21, he married Hulda Svenson and moved to the East Coast where he worked for Remington repairing typewriters and Bridgeport Manufacturing Company as an industrial engineer. When Hulda grew homesick for her family, in 1918 they packed up and moved back to Rockford.
As a self-taught engineer, Ernest was continually coming up with new inventions, including a patented self-loading shotgun and eventually several soon-to-be-legendary hand tools. Motivated by his observations regarding the limitations of wood-handled hammers and hatchets, Ernest established the Estwing Manufacturing Company in Rockford in 1923. His goal was to build the finest hand tools the world had ever known.
Before he passed away at the age of 97, Ernest saw his beloved Estwing grow and expand exponentially. The company he began in his basement now has product lines sold in leading hardware stores, home centers and retailers around the world.
