Brand · Hand Tools Made in USA + Global Materials
Vaughan
Vaughan & Bushnell has been making American hammers since 1869, when 18-year-old blacksmith Alexander Vaughan founded the company in Chicago. For over 150 years it has been synonymous with the hickory-handled nail hammer — forging heads in Bushnell, Illinois and drawing handles from its own American hickory. In 2024 Vaughan joined Marshalltown, one of the country’s iconic tool families. Vaughan labels its hammers “Made in USA with global materials,” so we place the brand a tier below fully-domestic makers — but the hickory hammer remains a genuine American classic.
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Brand at a Glance
Brand Score
Based on 1 Vaughan review so far. This score recalculates automatically as we review more of their tools.
American Manufacturing
Verified: July 2026
Vaughan forges its hammer heads in Bushnell, Illinois, and its hickory handles are made in the USA. The company labels the hammers “Made in USA with global materials” — a qualified claim, so we score it a tier below a fully-domestic tool. Vaughan is now owned by Marshalltown, a long-standing American tool manufacturer. Verified against Vaughan/Marshalltown materials, Wikipedia, and independent reporting.
The Story
| 1869 | Alexander Vaughan, an 18-year-old blacksmith, founds the company in Chicago, Illinois. |
| 1940 | Opens a factory in Bushnell, Illinois; consolidates manufacturing there by 1950. |
| 1994 | Acquires a hickory sawmill to secure its own supply of American handle wood. |
| 2024 | Acquired by Marshalltown; joins one of America’s iconic tool families. |
Vaughan Reviews
Why We Trust Vaughan
We have independently reviewed 1 Vaughan product. Average Made in America Review Score: 4.0/5. Manufacturing verified · last verified July 2026.
Buying Guides Featuring Vaughan
Vaughan appears in: The Best Made-in-USA Hammers & Striking Tools
Comparisons
See how Vaughan stacks up: Estwing vs Vaughan