Starrett Combination Square

Forged from a single piece of American steel — head and handle are one continuous piece, not joined by a wedge or epoxy. This eliminates the primary failure mode of wooden-handle hammers (handle separation) entirely. Made in Rockford, Illinois since 1923. The polished face is hardened to resist mushrooming on framing nails. The nylon vinyl grip is shock-absorbing without being a mechanical component — it can be replaced with bare steel if damaged. Professional framers and carpenters on r/Construction and r/BuyItForLife report using the same Estwing for 20-30 year careers.

The X27's handle is injection-molded FiberComp — a fiberglass and resin composite that is stronger than wood grain-for-grain and will not warp, split, or absorb water. The head is drop-forged steel hardened to a full convex profile that forces wood fibers apart efficiently rather than cutting through them. The proprietary convex edge geometry is more effective than flat-ground axes at splitting wood because it drives the crack through the grain rather than cutting it. Fiskars backs the X27 with a lifetime warranty covering defects and breakage. The material literally cannot rot or warp — the handle will outlast any owner.

Drop-forged from US steel and induction-hardened at the cutting edge — the jaw faces are hardened to a different rockwell than the body, giving you a tool that cuts hardened copper wire while maintaining a shock-resistant body that won't crack. Klein has been the standard-issue pliers for US electricians since 1857 and is still made in Mansfield, Illinois. The 9-inch model handles up to 6-gauge solid and 8-gauge stranded wire in its side cutter. The insulated handle versions are ASTM and UL tested to 1,000V AC — real working electrical safety rating, not decorative rubber.