Wish I had one thirty years ago but you were pretty much on your own back then - no high tech anything!

Deep in the desert here I have found no need to oil the head as others mention, and despite my rough use and abuse I have not yet managed to break the long handle, even though many others mention the need for handle replacement. I did scuff the black handle finish and can even see hickory, but I am not being kind and gentle.

I am swinging the 24 oz. death stick framer for over a month now (right, a better name would be less embarrasing but it is an eye catcher and I work alone: no one else has to see it) and I'm still learning to use her for all she's worth. Great for both construction and deconstruction, although I am still figuring out the best angles for pulling out old and bent nails with that long curved handle.

This hammer is so heavy I can use it to tear down old sheds and corrals back from the days when things were built right with real wood and nails and craftsmen, not just these bent papery knotty studs they sell us nowadays for top dollar.

Then I can come back with this same good hammer and build her up again.

Check it out. This is a 24 oz. head, but because of the curved long handle and perfect balance it really feels much lighter.

I wish it had a leather or rubber wrap around the handle, and some people here on this page talk about covering theirs with pipe, etc. Either that or I could just wear leather gloves out here in the desert sun but what fun is that. Keep that grip firm in the deep palm of your hands and not out at your finger tips. You'll soon be doing more work better than you ever thought.

Tore down a 10 foot by 25 foot back porch, home for pack rats and other rodents, bird nests and black widow, with a few mouse eating tarantula, and am building her back up again. Without this 24 oz. Dead On Deathstick couldn't have done any of it.

Reading these reviews now I'm afraid I'll bust the handle after really giving it a work out all this time with no ill effect. I love this hammer, and wish I had it thirty four years ago while working on a large convent farm. Could have got some work done.

The only thing this hammer cannot do is keep my old eyes and aim straight and my muscles strong, but its getting there. It did say sorry about the blood blister on my left thumb. Hey. It'll even drive home a bent nail if you let it. This thing loves to get'er done. Get one.

Well to be honest I pick this up merely on the fact it's called the "deathstick" (marketing at its best eh?)

Well, 3 months in there is no longer a waffle pattern, the magnet fell out, and it didn't do a very good job of pulling nails.

Go get a US TAPE PT-2 21 Ounce Smooth Face, Axe Handle Striker Hammer and be happy.

I bought this hammer and used it for three months before it was stolen--thank god. At first I loved it. The swing was nice and it drove nails well, but the finish wore quickly as did the cross hatching on the face. After the three months, the face was almost as smooth as my decking hammer. The face of the hammer is also rounded more than most which is fine until the face goes smooth, then the face starts slipping off the nail unless the blow is dead on. I have more success driving nails with my Hart decking hammer and will use it until I break down and buy another Hart or Douglas framing hammer.

I can't say that I know just how well it preforms, but this looks damn good hanging on my wall. I will say that I have never held a more comfortable hammer though.

I bought this hammer about a month ago and now I'm back ordering 3 more for a co-worker and my 2 bosses'. The long handle and nail starting head make it great for nailing above your head. The handle is lightweight and comfortable. As for the nail pulling issue I have read about in other reviews, I think it works fine, I would say about 85% of nails I can pull-not including finish nails. The only issue I have is the grove on the head of the hammer where the nail sits in -- after a little use the waffle points on the face of the hammer flatten out and get in the way of the grove, and 20p nails don't fit in the grove to begin with. After a little filing it should work fine..