Advice on Large Chopper Specs??

jeremy1517

jeremy1517

Joined
Sep 11, 2012
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I have decided I need a large chopper. The blade will be used during hunting, hiking, and backpacking trips. Primarily processing wood, hard chores, everything a small knife won't do.

I have a Bladesmith that I have had build several knives so I thought about asking him to build me a knife.

What Specs do you all like in a big chopper blade? Size? Shape? Grind? etc.

Also, If I wasn't to go custom, what is a nice Chopper you all would recommend? In my head, I'm thinking a knife with a 12" blade, unless you all think otherwise.

Thoughts?
 
If this is to be a custom it has to be custom to you. With that said 12-15 inch blade is my preference I like a convex grind on my wood processing blades, don't know what kind of handle your in too micarta , wood cord wrapped, aluminum encased in leather? What style blade latin style, barong, ginunting, golok, bolo? I own many choppers but my favorite three are my Esee Junglas, imacasa daga 14" machete and HI ASTK.
 
As previously stated, 12-15 inches is perfect. FFG or Convex grind, Convex or V-edge depending on your likes. 18-30 oz. weight. Handle of preferably Micarta, Res-C, or G10. Weight forward blades tend to work best, do not go thinner than 3/16 or you won't have enough mass for work on thicker vegetation. I am very fond of 52100 steel as heat-treated by the Swamp, holds an edge longer than anything I have yet encountered. BTW I cut a lot of Juniper, wild persimmon, some post oak, and occasional brush and large weeds. YMMV, but this is what I like.
 
My Bladesmith uses 52100. I love it as well. Seems to hold its edge well and can take some abuse. Sharpens easy enough. I would get my blade made from 52100.
 
Large choppers to look at are the Khukuri House Mukti if you want something sorta insane and the Condor Golok if you want something lighter
 
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