Made in USA with globally sourced components
Hand Tools
The classic American hickory-handled nail hammer, made since 1869.
Before one-piece steel, the American hammer was hickory and forged steel — and Vaughan has been building that hammer since 1869. The Vaughan 99 is a 16-ounce rip-claw nail and trim hammer with a forged head and a genuine hickory handle: light in the swing, easy on the arm, and beloved by finish carpenters who want a wood handle’s feel and the option to replace it rather than the whole tool. Vaughan hammer heads are forged in Bushnell, Illinois; the company is now part of the American tool maker Marshalltown.
A genuine American classic: a forged head on a real hickory handle, made the traditional way since 1869 and priced It swings lighter and easier on the elbow than a solid-steel hammer, and a broken handle is a cheap fix rather than a new tool. Two honest caveats: Vaughan states its hammers are “Made in USA with global materials” (a step below a fully-domestic tool), and a wood handle, however replaceable, is not as indestructible as Estwing’s one-piece steel.
At a Glance
Made in America Review Score
A Research & Evidence-Based review: scored on the same weighted six-criteria model as every product on this site, using manufacturer and retailer specifications, verified manufacturing details, materials, and independent reporting. The score is calculated last, from the evidence below.
This product has not been hands-on tested. Our rating is based on verified manufacturing information, published specifications, independent reporting, retailer data, and long-term reputation.
We independently verify where each product is actually made and score it on the same weighted six-criteria model. Manufacturers do not pay for placement, and we accept no free products in exchange for coverage. See our review methodology.
Made in USA Verification
Verified: July 2026
Vaughan forges its hammer heads in Bushnell, Illinois, and its hickory handles are made in the United States. However, Vaughan labels these hammers “Made in USA with global materials” — a qualified claim, meaning some inputs are imported. That is why it sits a tier below a fully-domestic tool like an Estwing (one continuous piece of American steel) in our Made-in-USA score. Vaughan is now owned by Marshalltown, a long-standing American tool manufacturer. We verified this against Vaughan/Marshalltown materials, Wikipedia, and independent reporting.
Manufacturing Confidence: Medium Made in the USA with some global materials · brand owned by Marshalltown · independent confirmation (retailer listing) · company confirmation (vaughanmfg.com).
American Manufacturing
| Head forged in | Bushnell, Illinois |
| Handle | Hickory, made in the USA |
| Manufacturing status | Made in USA with global materials (qualified claim) |
| Company | Founded 1869; owned by Marshalltown (American tool maker) since 2024 |
| Warranty | No formal written warranty confirmed (see note) |
Manufacturing Confidence: High. Factory location verified (Bushnell, IL) · current production verified (active in Marshalltown’s catalog) · independent confirmation (Wikipedia, Illinois Farm Bureau, trade press) · company confirmation (vaughanmfg.com / marshalltown.com). Note the qualified “with global materials” claim.
The Vaughan Story
| 1869 | Alexander Vaughan, an 18-year-old blacksmith, founds the company in Chicago, Illinois. |
| 1940 | Vaughan 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; the Vaughan line joins one of America’s iconic tool families. |
Pros & Cons
Pros
- A genuine American hickory-handled nail hammer, a design refined since 1869
- Hickory swings lighter and dampens shock better than solid steel
- Replaceable handle — a break is a cheap fix, not a new tool
- Rip (straight) claw doubles as a pry and demolition aid
- Excellent value
Cons
- “Made in USA with global materials” — a qualified claim, not fully domestic
- A wood handle can loosen or break where one-piece steel never will
- No formal written warranty we could confirm
In Use
The hickory difference
Hickory is why carpenters have carried wood-handled hammers for a century and a half: it flexes just enough to take the sting out of a missed strike, and the balance in the hand feels alive in a way steel does not. For a day of trim and nail work, many people simply find it more comfortable.
Rip claw and face
The 99 is a rip-claw pattern — the straight claw pries boards, splits trim, and levers nails, where a curved claw is tuned purely for pulling. The smooth face is right for finish work where you do not want to mar the surface.
Repairable by design
The trade-off for wood is that handles eventually break; the upside is you re-handle the tool for a few dollars and keep the forged head for life. It is a different philosophy from one-piece steel — repair versus indestructibility — and which one wins is genuinely down to preference.
Specifications
Help us keep this review accurate
Products, prices, and specifications change over time. If you have spotted an error — or if you are with Vaughan or Marshalltown and can confirm the formal warranty terms or sourcing details — we would appreciate your help.
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Where to buy
The Vaughan 99 Rip Claw hammer is stocked in the Buy American Campaign Store. You can also see Vaughan’s line direct from the manufacturer.
How It Compares
- Choose the Vaughan 99 for a classic hickory-handled rip-claw hammer.
- Choose Estwing if you want a one-piece all-steel tool.
- Not sure? Our Estwing vs Vaughan comparison breaks down the trade-offs.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Vaughan 99 made in the USA?
Yes — it is made in the USA, though with some global materials.
What is the handle made of?
American hickory.
What is the Vaughan 99 used for?
Trim carpentry, nail work, and general-purpose hammering.
How heavy is it?
16 oz.
Who owns Vaughan?
Vaughan is now owned by Marshalltown; production remains US-based with global materials.
Related Guides
Buying Guide
The Best Made-in-USA Hammers & Striking Tools
Estwing, Vaughan, and the best American-made hammers.
Related Reviews
What owners actually say
Public review pools for this hammer are small — Home Depot shows fewer than two dozen reviews on the sibling 20-ounce — so we are not going to dress up a star rating. What the tool forums do say is worth hearing. The recurring criticism is fit and finish, and it predates the Marshalltown acquisition: owners who have owned Vaughans for decades say the newer heads are painted or lacquered rather than stamped and polished, and that the older forgings had their edges and ridges ground smooth in a way the current ones do not. Beyond that the complaints are the ordinary facts of a wood-handled hammer: the handle is a consumable and will eventually need replacing, and the milled face will chew up finish work, which is why the smooth-face version exists.
What owners praise is balance. The long-neck rip pattern, hickory that soaks up shock, and a triple-wedged head are why carpenters who have tried everything come back to it. And the provenance line deserves care: after the 2024 acquisition, Marshalltown itself describes the 999 series as made in the USA with global materials — which is why this review carries the amber badge rather than the green one. We are not going to upgrade a claim the manufacturer does not make.
Should You Buy It?
Yes.
A hickory-handled classic from Hebron, Illinois that still swings better than most. Buy it if you want a wood-handled hammer that will take a beating. If you would rather never replace a handle, an Estwing one-piece is the answer.
The exact Vaughan VN12400 we reviewed — made in USA with globally sourced components, as Vaughan labels it.
Who Makes Vaughan Hammers?
Where it is really made, who makes it, and how the company has held on to American manufacturing.