I am new to wood carving and this is my first carving hammer. So far I really like this tool. also really dig with a chisel. I don't really know what the term "abuse" can actually mean in the world of woodcarving, but I've been using it every day since I started and there are no marks on the head and all my chisels are intact, so it's definitely something like that. I was a little hesitant about the price and I always like to buy solid wood tools whenever I can so I had to sit and think about it for a while. Ultimately, I'm sure those expensive wood carving hammers are great, but this thing is a beast and will likely last a comparable period or longer. Perhaps most importantly, it's a tool I enjoy using, so I'll likely continue to use it for some time to come.