Because this Estwing hammer has a full metal build and not a wooden handle, you get a vinyl grip. That’s a must have on any metal handle thanks to the vibration that will still come through. The grip reduces what vibration makes it to my hand and offers a pretty comfortable yet secure grip. The grip is a nice step up from my other premium hammers. The handle also has just enough curve to fit well in hand.

Thanks to the forging process and the alloy Estwing goes with, it’s claiming to be even lighter than titanium. That’s not a claim we can validate since titanium hammers go with a different material for the handle. Estwing’s aluminum, however, makes up both the handle and head. Well balanced, highly durable and expertly crafted. Estwing are renowned for the quality of their hammers and the EALBK is a testament to that. It is made from forged aircraft aluminium which makes it extremely lightweight yet also very durable. This combined with its superb balance adds up to a highly durable hammer that is also easy to wield. In an ideal world, we’d be able to forge an entire hammer around whatever core we wanted. However, that’s not the case. Estwing has a few possibilities here: design a removable face to insert the shot to the core, go in through the top, or go in through the claw. The Estwing AL-Pro Framing Hammer uses a rear insert method, given away by the fastener location. We hear a lot about titanium with Stiletto framing hammers and the power to weight ratio they offer. It certainly pretty incredible. But as nice as those hammers are, even with their poly fiberglass handles, one of our favorites is still the Powerstrike Framing Hammer. Like the Powerstrike, Estwing opts for aluminum. This is much the same rationale as the bicycle industry – aluminum offers high strength and lighter weight than steel, though steel has better vibration dampening properties in general.The Estwing AL-Pro Shot Hammer obviously takes its cues from its dead-blow counterparts. But with a strikingly different application, does the concept still work? If this is the first expensive hammer you have considered, do not try to justify it, a paslode is far superior, this hammer is for those who appreciate the finer joys of building. It’s the equivalent of a businessman having a premium pen to sign off with.

As far as missing features go, some Pros prefer a side nail puller but the AL-Pro doesn’t have one. That’s far from being a deal-breaker. A Shot in the Dark? It’s not the best nail puller on the market but that’s what a claw is better suited to be bashed with. It’s the perfect trade off between a timber handle which is lighter but fragile and a titanium which is very pricey.That doesn’t make it the sleekest-looking framing hammer the world has ever seen. But as we have experienced before, don’t judge a book by its cover. Kenny’s life around power tools started early. His grandfather was an airplane mechanic in WW2 and took up woodworking as a hobby after retiring from the power industry. Building everything from bookshelves to lazy Susans, he became extremely accomplished while his young grandson observed, fascinated at the way raw wood could turn into something both beautiful and functional. In fact, Kenny still uses several pieces that his grandfather made more than 30 years ago. And, of course, every premium framing hammer should have a magnetic nail starter. You’ll get one on this model that works well in this class.

I got this because I didn’t want to follow the trend for a Martinez or stiletto and I’m very pleased so far. Other than side scratches and dings in the aluminum head from side nailing in tight spaces, it has remained in considerably good condition. I would have long ago broken a wooded handle from demo work and prying. I often use the claw to pry lumber apart by leveraging the hammer sideways and yet both claws are still intact. I can’t say that of my last hammer which broke a claw doing that. It had a titanium head and I should have known better, but when the work needs to get done and you’re in the zone you sometimes ask more of your tools. This hammer hasn’t let me down yet. I’ll probably buy a martinez eventually to add to the collection but I’m very happy with the al-pro for now. Stiletto’s titanium still has an overall better feel, especially as the day gets longer. It’s not just the lighter weight, but the additional length in the handle also serves to improve the power delivery. Estwing can benefit by offering an 18″ handle option next time around. Even with the extra length, it’s going to be awfully tough to beat out titanium in the premium hammer class.

Estwing AL-Pro Shot Hammer Specifications

It all comes down to striking the nail. You can toss the cheap hammers out after just a couple of nails with each. The Estwing AL-Pro is clearly superior. Things got a little muddier when I invited Stiletto and Powerstrike to the party, though. Striking power is similar between the two aluminum hammers and I give Estwing the edge thanks to a more comfortable and secure grip.