After many years of framing homes for Habitat for Humanity, my right shoulder started to give me chronic problems. I'd take a month off and then come back to have the same problem arise. I must admit that were several fellow volunteers who had Stiletto hammers and kidded them about their expense hammers. As a last resort I borrowed one of their Stiletto hammers and within two weeks my problem was resolved. So I bought one.

I bought this to replace my husband's worn out one. Very pleased with purchase. My husband likes using a Stiletto because of the light weight and long handle.

i bought this so my elbow would not hurt as much when framing all day. after several uses, the face became abnormally worn and after 3 weeks the waffle face was almost completely mashed and not gripping nail heads like it used to. also after 2 uses the interior of the nail claw bent a bit, so now it doesn't grip nails at all when removing them. titanium is not all it's cracked up to be. my 15 year-old hart california framer still grips nails like the day i bought it. so why did i give this hammer 3 stars and not one? well, my elbow does feel better when framing all day. this hammer is light-weight at 14 oz, but still packs the punch of a 22 oz framing hammer. the shock when pounding with this hammer is reduced, making it easier on the elbow. i'm still slower because i can't use my hammer to pull nails and driving nails is a bit off. i like the magnetic nail slot too, although that's nothing new. my 10 year-old dogyu japanese framing hammer has this feature too. you still need 2 hammers. a waffle face for driving nails and beating things and a light-weight smooth face for use with cats paws, etc, that wont tear up these steel tools.

Totally stoked with the purchase of this Stiletto Framing Hammer. A bit new to the carpentry and a bit older. I'm 45yrs old and started as a framer about four months ago, at first I began swinging a 21 once hammer. Worked great but it really taxed my arm. Was suggested I get something lighter; like a Stiletto. I love this hammer. I recommend it to all framers out there.

Great hammer for the professional framer...Can't pull nails with it though. I wouldn't recomend this for the general homeowner as you can buy a much cheaper hammer that will do the same job. If you are driving hundreds of nails every day then this hammer will save your elbow!!!

My folks got this for me for Christmas and I finally got a chance to use it at a local Habitat for Humanity project and was pleasantly surprised. I thought that only be 14oz that it wouldn't drive nails, but I was able to drive 16d nails with ease while building the stud walls.

After a full day of hammering, my legs and left arm were tired and sore, but my right arm (I'm right-handed) wasn't even tired!

One could ask, why would anyone pay $90.00 for a hammer for ordinary use?? Well, it does look somewhat crazy; however, the more I use it, the more addicted to it I get. It is a nice hammer with some true benefits!

Sherman Vance
Horse Cave, KY

As a former framer and now weekend carpenter, I have to say that I woulld never go back to a heavy Steel hammer. To address a few previous complaints, yes, I have broken handles. About three now I think. In Five years of use that is. And doing things I should't have. Like heavy demolition and Pulling Nails using the head as a lever. The Correct way to pull nails is with A) a Cat's Paw or B) by Bending the hammer handle sideways back and forth. If you use the head as your lever, you will beak any wooden hammer handle. I keep a spare handle in the truck just in case. As for the weight, Well, I'll remind you that F=MA (Remember that Physiscs class you never paid attention in?). Therefore it's the carpenter that drives the nail, not the hammer. What the Titanium does it put the little guy (Like me) at an advantage because I can work longer without fatigue. So if you are a Full-time Professional Framer and your arms are the size of tree trunks you might want to stick with your 26oz beast. As for me, I will keep on swinging my 14oz Stiletto as I build my nice new shop.

Great hammer. Makes me yearn for the days when putting up drywall and drinking brew were a carpenter's obligation as much as his desire. Nowdays, you get these wannabe carpenters staying lucid and not double charging. Frankly, they've ruined the industry. I mean, I try to keep an open mind and all, but there comes a time in a man's life when he has to look in the mirror and take stock of himself. I don't judge a man by his choice of friends or what he does when he's not at work. But golly, if you're a carpenter, be one. Great hammer.

Back ordered, but arrived as specified. Great notice of changes in status of order and delivery date. Very satisified

Boy, you read these reviews and most of you guys sound like you outta wear dresses. I'll take my 10 year old 21 Oz. Dalluge against any of you guys and well race for pinks, 20 8d galvs in a plywood break - 6" O.C.; or first one through a box of 16d's. That is if your poor elbows can handle it and you are not too fatigued to make it up to the roof. Seriously, any hammerhand knows that good corrugation ("milling")and balance is the key to efficient nail driving. Any hammer knowadays flattens out in a matter of days, even if you only pound nails. Of course I favor legislation that would make it a crime to use a hammer on a catspaw,other metal tools, on concrete, or on any other surface not made of wood or nails. Drop my skilsaw, cut my cord, but abuse my baby Dalluge and you got trouble. Unfortunately, they don't make em like they use to.

I have wanted the Stiletto titanium hammer for about 2 years and finally I received as a gift. I read all of the reviews on the hammer and one concerned me. John Crawford reviewed it on October 30, 2000. He wrote that it is a cool hammer to nail nails but not to pull nails. He broke the handle after the third or forth nail. He's right, I didn't even have mine on the job for two days. I pulled a couple nails with it and then nailed a 16d nail and the head broke off. The handle is way to thin which goes into the head. Don't get me wrong I fell in love with the hammer the first day but to be a every day framing hammer not a hammer to have. I had to break out old faithfull, my Estwing. I still have my old $15.00 framing hammer when I first started in construction over 10 years ago. If they can figure out to make the handle stronger then the Stiletto is a must have.

I bought this hammer a little while back. I work on a construction crew, and do numberous odd jobs. I do like this hammer a lot. It's very light, which is great for not weighing down my toolbelt. It also does not put much stress on my elbow. I was using a heavier hammer, and I could start to feel a twinge in my tendons. The long handle is great, especially since I am not too tall. The nail set is great again to extend my reach. I haven't had any problems pulling nails, even the old rusty ones. I think my next hammer might be a Dalluge. They are 16 ounces, so it doesn't require quite as much effort to drive them home.

i was workng at a boy scout camp replacing the whole roof on a small latrine the roof was 12' by 8' arched and we replaced all the plywood and stuff it was great using this hammer i was so much faster nailing things down than all the other scouts. it took 3 hits to put in like 3inch nails for the plywood and not even one full power hit to put in the shingles nails it was great

I was a loyal Estwing user, I have owned 3 28oz Framers and 1 of the 20oz long handle hammers. Now I just keep one 28oz in the truck for demolition, but the Stiletto stays with me at all times. I have broken my right wrist twice and used to switch hands when it would get sore, but the first day I used this hammer I didn't have to switch once. Don't let the 14oz weight fool you, I am driving nails faster than ever with this. Highly Recommend.

I am a carpenter of nearly 20 years and my elbow on my right arm hurt so bad from years of hammering that I taught myself to hammer left handed. Then I bought a stilleto hammer and my right arm feels like a new arm. Thanks Stilleto. Henry

I'm a remodel carpenter and use the Stiletto hammer just about every day. Here's why I like it:

The 18-inch hatchet handle is very comfortable and provides a long reach. This is especially helpful when roofing or in other precarious situations because it means that I can drive nails and hit or pry wood members without changing my position as much. The long reach, combined with the magnetized nail holder, make it easy to place nails in overhead beams (up to about 9 feet high; I'm 6'2") without having to use a ladder.

In addition to pulling nails, the ultra-straight, chisel-sharp claws can be jammed into pieces of wood and leveraged to help position them when using a nail gun with your other hand. When the lumber company delivers wood bundles to our worksites, I use the claws to cut right through the metal straps that bind the wood together. It takes one or two well placed whacks. I actually use the claws more for non-nail-pulling activities because I carry a cat's paw for nail pulling (I often use a nail gun, so most nails get driven so deeply into the wood that no hammer alone would be able to get a start on them).

The light weight of titanium gives the hammer a larger head size than it would have if it were steel. Because the hammer is light and very well-balanced, it's comfortable to use all day as other reviewers have noted. It also makes the hammer easier to control with greater precision because it takes less effort to swing. I've found that my hammering accuracy has improved with the Stiletto. I also like the fact that it doesn't weigh down my tool belt very much.

Lastly, the hammer's milled face is rough enough to grip nails but not so aggressive that it'll ruin any metal tools that you happen to strike with it. It also is much gentler on the fingers than some of the other milled-faced hammers on the market.

This isn't a hammer for demolition though, and I keep a small sledgehammer in my toolbox for the times when a little more persuasion is needed. For framing, the Stiletto performs very well, and I've found it to be worth the higher price.

Ok, I had one of these hammer for a year and a half and it is an awesome hammer! Like non other on the site! the titanium deathsticks didnt even matchup. This hammer was given to me after my boss had bought it to get rid of his tennis elbow/hammer's elbow, then handed it down to his second man, who in turn handed it down to me once he bought a deathstick (which broke in a month!) the only problem i ever had with the hammer is the handle started to break but with the proper number (7 billion....) of nails nailed into the top of the head, it was rock solid and could take any twisting. one of the great things about this hammer is the handle which gives great leverage on a nail in really tight spots. and its light too so its easy to swing. and just to let you know, i could sink a 16d nail in two swings (plus a small tack). so it does hit just as hard as a 21. great for me cuz im a small guy (im only 16), and it keeps fatigue down. i actually have to buy a new one soon though because i dropped mine down a block foundation. never to be retrieved. o well. but trust me, great hammer, ive been doing construction for two and a half years and nothing like it for framming!

The natural thing to compare this hammer to is a standard 16oz claw hammer which had been the framer/carpenter's standard until the invention of the Plumb hatchet derived 21oz framing hammer. Compared to a 21oz the 14oz Stilletto needs 50% more energy if swung at the same speed. That means you have to swing it 22% faster. That may not sound like much, but it is roughly the difference between the shortest and longest drivers on the PGA tour. Just swinging it faster isn't as easily said as done. On the other hand if you regularly take 2-6 swats to place a 16d nail, you may not see any difference.

Incidentally when they make titanium golf clubs, they make them the same weight as steel ones of the same length, the payoff comes from the larger head which makes on-center hits relatively easier. I would like to see a framing hammer made with that technology.

Where this hammer really shines for the pro is as a replacement for the lighter 16 oz hammer. At 14oz, but with the longer handle and bigger head than the standard carpenters hammer it easily outdrives the heavier hammer, and is more versatile. If most of your framing is done with a gun, why carry 21 oz all day for the odd restricted use situation?

This light hammer, roughly in the finishing weight category will bog down on heavy work like setting nails, or driving resistant nails like spirals or rings.

Titanium will spark on impact with dirt (possibly on the head of the hammer, or the nail, or framing), as you may notice if your day runs into the dark. Be careful if there is any possibility of explosive hazards in the area.

I rate it as 5 stars on the basis of how well it works. I would rate it a lot lower if I was rating the manufacturer's claim that a 14oz hammer hits like a 21oz hammer.

I was a little skeptical when I saw this on Amazon's website, however, I was less so after I received this for Christmas. I had a framing hammer that has served me well for the past two years that I bought at a hardware store. My first framing hammer has a 16 oz serrated/scored head that does the job fairly well. The problem with this hammer is that it really wears on your arm and using it all day is painful. I've tried putting different athletic tapes, Sorbothane inserts and rubber grips on the handle to lessen the blow when I hammer, but by the end of the day, my forearm is killing me. After taking the Stilleto to work, I saw the difference immediately. The handle, although made of wood,is very ergonomic and friendly to your wrist. I'm not an expert on ergonomics or physics, but I believe that because it's easier to use, you're less likely to tire when you use it (it's also 2 oz lighter than my other framer), you can work more efficiently and it takes the blows very well. IF you regularly use a framer on the job, this is the hammer for you.

My Arm would ache after a day of swinging other hammers.

This hammer is the best thing that ever happened to my wrists and elbow. The nail setter has proven indespensible when absolutely needed, and at other times it has increased my safety, because I don't have to lean over a roof edge or on a ladder with two hands anymore. The lighter weight head doesn't slow nailing a bit. When you use it everyday the cost is well-justified. The only drawback is that you can't put alot of pressure on the handle, but I have not had any problems pulling nails. Oh, and the ladies love the looks of it.

I got the hammer some time ago and thought it was awsome at first, until I tried to use it at work. I am rough framer, and use my hammer about a hundred times a day. This hammer is cool nailing nails But what they don't tell you is that you're not allowed to pull nails with it. I didn't know that until I pulled the third or fourth nail and the head of the hammer fell off. If you like the feel of a lightweight titanium hammer, and you are going to use it, I suggest that you go with the Death stick. It weighs the same and the handle doesn't break.

I had originally purchased a steel 21 oz epoxy coated Renegade framing hammer from Stiletto. The epoxy failed and after numerous conversation with them they offered to exchange it with a Ruger Titan.

I had been using 23 ounce steel framing hammers exclusively for 3 years and thought that they were the "berries." After hand driving my first bag of 16 v.c. sinkers with this light weight nail bender I was truely amazed.

I really like the hatchet style handle as much as I like the head speed that comes with the lighter weight.

It's not hte cheapest hammer you can buy, but as long as no one thinks that that they need it more than you, it may be the last framer you'll ever buy.

I'm doing some demolition with one of these right now, and I have to fight my helper for this hammer. I had to order one for her yesterday. I take it that the titanium claws won't last if you are on steady, pulling nails, and the milled face won't last as long as a steel hammer, but this is a framing hammer, the claws aren't designed to pull nails well anyway. The sheer lightness of this thing and its utility make you want to use it whenever it has the slightest possibility of proving its worth. I think they will evolve one day, if the engineers can figure out how to combine titanium and steel, with steel lined claws and a steel striking surface. If you've got the cash, this thing is very pricey for a hammer, you'll like this tool. Give me a crowbar made of titanium, with steel claws and a steel pry end. Its the reduced mass, you can wave this thing around, move it to where you have to, with so much less effort that you immediately come to love it. We find 24 oz steel framing hammers around here, lying in the dirt, and the standing joke is we've just found some antique tool, that no one in their right mind would use. We're still using steel hammers for steady nail pulling, or steel crowbars, its looks like titanium won't stand up to that. Who cares about price, when you think about what your wrists feel like after twenty years. You'd have to ask someone else about how long this hammer would stand up to steady work though, I've only been using it for a short time.

I have been pounding nails for 20 years. Always searching for the right feel in a hammer. I was a little aprehensive on the price, but I took the plunge anyway: It was a correct decision. Nailing galvanized 16p's is like pounding butter. I now have better control also. Less "smiles" or "roses" as they say. Since I usually am rough on tools, I wrapped my curved handle with rubber "friction" tape, and then covered it with a heat shrink tubing. The grip now feels great. All in all I am extremely happy with the Stiletto. I will heed the advice of others and keep one of my monsters for demo work. Look for all my other hammers on the auction sites.

I spent all day today, by myself, framing a one-story house. I left the Senco air powered nailer in the truck and just used the Stiletto. I wanted to see if this Titanium hammer would ease the burden on my tennis elbow (framers elbow?). It took me about a half hour to get used to this baby, and I switched off with a 24 oz steel framer for a while and came right back to the Stilleto. No contest. The steel framer went back in the toolbox. The Stiletto gave me no elbow pain; just easy driving of those 16d sinkers all day long. If you make your living driving nails, or even just have the need to drive a lot of them, check out this hammer.

Stillettos new 14 oz titanium Framing hammer - I'm sold - Can never go back to a standard weight ... It took me a few days to adjust my swing but now it's the best thing since sliced bread ..

I also just got the New 12oz Trim hammer, Just as sweet !!

No looking back now !
Mike

When I first saw the hammer, I thought "That's gonna change my life!" Reality set in shortly thereafter when I realised that I shouldn't have spent the money on a softer metal when I could have gotten a lighter steel hammer of a similar shape. I don't understand why I didn't realize this earlier. I do like the handle shape, and there will probably still be a market for people who want to impress others with their expensive tools

When I first saw this hammer the look on my face must have said volumes, I thought, "gee nice looking hammer, but what is it good for, it is so light I can't imagine having to actually pound nails with it". My partner smiled and said give it a try, then make your decision. After the first hour of using the Stilleto Titanium framing hammer I was impressed, at the end of the first day I wouldn't give it up at any price. I still don't know how it works, but I can drive 16's as fast (by the 2nd. half of the day, actually faster) than I could with the 24oz. Hart California Framer that I had used prior to the Stilleto. The real advantage in my opinion, is the reduction in stress upon the users elbow joint due to the much lighter weight of the hammer. The only draw back that I have noticed in the 1 yr. that I have been using the Stilleto is that the titanium rip claws tend to develope nicks when using them to pull bent nails, also using the hammer against hardened steel tools like pullers and ripping bars quickly dulls the milled face (however the face checkering was never as pronounced as the Hart or Death Stick framers). The nail set magnet and seat work exceptionally well for setting 8d and up nails in top plates or other hard to reach areas. All in all I wouldn't use any other hammer for day to day framing, but keep your old heavy weight framer for demolition work.

Throw all other big headed ,heavy, steel handles away this is all you will need ,light but drives in as good as any F B H around .I swear once you try it your hooked ,My boss brought one each for the whole crew [14 guys] .