Advice on choppers/camp knives

D

Diamond Dog

Joined
Jun 25, 2007
Messages
695
I am looking to get a new chopper/camp knife and after looking at some styles I like, I was wondering what is the purpose of a recurve blade on a larger camp knife? Is it just the weight forward to help chop better? Does this prohibit the knifes function if batoning or help?

Secondly, for a larger chopper/camp knife what kind of grind is ideal? Or is it just preference? I am not that great at sharpening I must admit so after reading the convex edge seems easy, but then so does the scandi grind.

I currently just used an Ontario Knife 12" machete and found that I liked it very much. I am generally not a large knife guy, but I am finding myself lately drawn more towards them. It is possible this knife may be the answer to my needs, but of coarse I keep finding my way to the custom knifemakers works.:D
 
That Ontario 12" machete is a gem that too few people have found. As for your recurve blade question, that design has proven to be a great cutter over the long run, and chops well also, but, at least IMHO, it is harder to sharpen. I think that your 12" machete along with a smaller knife like a fallkniven f1, mora, finn bear, rc-3, etc would keep you cutting and doing just about anything you would need. the CS Pendleton hunter is a sweet knife as well especially for the price (no flames from the CS hater's association please...they do make a few good knives.....I don't like Lynn either, but some of his company's tools are good deals)
 
Fallkniven A1 or A2 and a F1 for smaller jobs.
Or the Fallkniven S1 if you just want one knife.
 
It always comes back to personal preference. I used to always carry a big chopper, but found that I didn't "need" it. I still like using big knives, but find that small to medium sized knives do everything I need to do.

You could pick up a custom chopper from one of our awesome BF makers for probably not much more than you'd get a large factory knife for.

Something in O1, A2, 1095 or 5160 with a full flat grind always does it for me. Convex grinds are nice too, I just don't have as much experience with them.
 
i've also been wanting a good chopper lately....:)

you should talk to matt, from ML knives.... my father in law is getting a really cool hudson bay knife from him.. it's got osage handle scales..... :D
 
I've kind of moved towards small-medium sized blades and haven't found that I am able to get enough use out of the big fellas, a bit like tknife. They're fun though!

I am, however, a big fan of carrying a solid, lightweight hatchet. They seem to do more than their fair share and can chop very well. You'll probably want a small knife around the camp to compliment your big knife anyway, so carrying a small knife and hatchet isn't much different.

It's all about what you get the most use and fun out of!
 
I have found that the bigger knives are sure fun to use. I may even get a good hatchet in the future I read some good things on some of them, but it is always fun to get a big knife. I have the smaller knives covered, but for some depth I would like a bigger knife than the usual 4 1/2" varieties.

Anyone have experience with recurve blade? Thanks all.
 
A 10" or 12" bladed Khukuri is what I like. No problem batoning. Easy to resharpen with sand paper. The 10 is easier to carry around and a 12 makes you feel like king of the forrest.:)
 
Friskar hatchet or the standard USGI machette does it for me. Either one with a small FB or multitool/SAK and you're set to go. Although I would like to try one of those Khukuri sometime in the future just to see if it worth using out camping/hiking. Not to hi-jack your thread. Does anybody use these on a regular basis? I found one that has a 6" blade on ebay from nepal.
 
im w/ stahl on this. a khukuri is what i carry for choppin and batonin, nothin beats em IMHO.

plus they look cool:D
 
I've been doing a survey of just such blades. I'm seriously impressed by the Ka-Bar Heavy 12" bowie !!! It stops short of being a 'clearing' blade like the 12" Ontario et al, but man it chops. Oh. It happens to be the defacto ruler of the Kitchen knife roost as well.Otherwise I have to recommend my Outdoorsman, made by Ranger Knives.
 
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