I just been fighting myself over this one. I'm in the market for a good hammer and them things aint cheap! I can see pro's and cons to both designs. Which do you prefer and why?
I carry four with me on the ATV. Estwing Geo/Paleo pick, Estwing 22 oz, and then a 3 pound and 4 pound hammer. I usually leave the sledge behind unless there's a specific purpose for it on that day.
I love the Paleo, it passes the test here for picking.. It's​ light and durable but a bit spendy. Worth it though. I have many Eastwing products and they have all passed the test of time including my kids. The hammers are great quality, you can't go wrong.
http://www.endtimesreport.com/pictures/single_jacks.jpg..either one of the type on the right in the pic.Find a single jack at a yard sale or flea market.The one I used for over 35 years was almost exactly like the one on the far right and was found in a creek ,minus the handle of course.It was deposited there from a flood over a hundred years ago.The head was pitted and rusty of course.
You can't go wrong with a estwing. I always carry the Paleo pick, and sometimes a estwing rock hammer or estwing brick hammer. Estwing is the only hammers I will buy. Super durable you don't have to worry about breaking them. You only need to worry about people stealing them.
Yes Estwings are great tools,but it's the fellow treasure hunter that will steal your tools if you leave them laying around or hidden...not crack or meth heads.
The standard 22oz estwing steel rock pick with pointed tip that saltwatersevr posted is the best all around hammer. The chisel tip or masonary hammers are best for when you need to split rocks while fossil hunting
I use a Eastwing rock hammer for all my detecting, including rural coin/relic hunting. There are times, I wish also had one of those commercial picks with the super magnet, but I suspect they are very heavy.