Are your fixed blades for cutting or chopping?

[not2sharp]

Yesterday, I accidentally discovered a new Kellam Knives Co. store. For those who may not know Kellam manufactures and imports a fine assortment of Puukos. These are generally very sharp small knives offering very high cutting performance. It had me thinking about how we use our fixed bladed knives.

Virtually every time we discuss a large knife we end up talking about its ability to pry and chop. We sometimes talk about how sharp these knives are, but we seldom talk about whether they can cut.

Since, cutting involves both sharpness and blade geometry. A knife may be shaving sharp and still have a poor cutting performance. The drag from the blade width of our 1/4"+ camp knives will interfere with its cutting ability.

I use my sheath knives primarily for light chopping, and rely instead on a folding lockback of a SAK for cutting. So the camp knife format works well for me.

How do you use your sheath knives?

 

[Jeff Clark]

I usually cut material like meat, sinew, and hide with my hunting knife. There are times when I need to cut or chop through bone. I prefer not to have significant damage when that happens. When I have chopped bone with a Frosts of Sweden stainless knife I have moderately dinged the blade. Using a steel and stone I can restore the blade virtually 100%. If I do the same thing with a Buck Vanguard Master Series with BG42 blade you can't tell that you've done any chopping. I haven't tried with the harder carbon or laminated carbon blades from Frosts yet.

I carry a hatchet for serious chopping, not a knife. I don't carry a knife with a 1/4" blade except for show. Even 3/16" is thicker than I like for a using knife.



[This message has been edited by Jeff Clark (edited 03-26-2000).]

 

[SALTY]

I use folders for cutting and fixed blades for everything else. This includes prying, chopping, digging and other chores that might be a bit much for a folder.

I like a 1/4" blade, keep in mind I have a sharp, sub 1/4" folder with me. While I like (prefer) 1/4", I have done well with Buck skinners and specials but now seem to really like Puma White Hunters for hunting. For true "survival" type camping activities I'll take a heavy fixed blade anytime.

 

[Cougar Allen]

You're not going to believe this, guys, but my current battery for the woods is a fixed blade for cutting and a folder for chopping.

Fixed blade: old Brusletto puukko.
Folder: Uluchet.

I can't just end the post here or people who haven't heard about the Uluchet yet will think I'm a lunatic....
http://dns1.silverstar.com/turnermfg/index.html

-Cougar :{)

 

[Cliff Stamp]

Not2sharp :

The drag from the blade width of our 1/4"+ camp knives will interfere with its cutting ability.

While it is true that thinner stock will cut better given everything else equal, the edge geometry is usually more important than the spine thickness. David Boye's drop point hunters are about .22" at the spine and they cut very well (rope, wood, light cardboard etc.) as they are ground down to .01" just behind the edge.

Even large knives used for chopping should be able to cut well, if they can't then it will take an extreme amount of force to drive the blade through whatever you are trying to chop as the same principles are involved. The Busse BM for example is a large good quality chopper which can cut well because of the acute edge profile.

Overly think edges are not needed chopping wood unless the blades are really heavy (khukuris) and thus the impact forces start to get extreme.

-Cliff

 

[Jeff Clark]

Overly think edges waste lots of time making decisions. They try and decide whether they intend to be thick or thin. (This comment will see awfully weird once Cliff corrects his typo).

 

[cerulean]

Everyone on BladeForums is, obviously, really into knives. We like to discuss what kinds of extreme tasks a knife can perform. But, although a knife is a very versatile tool, there are other tools out there that can perform some tasks much better.

For most types of chopping tasks, the axe is the superior tool. Knives are better choppers when it comes to food preparation or brush clearing, but remember that there are very specific types of knives made for these tasks.

I personally chop with knives so infrequently, that I never use a large, camp-type knife. It's fun to see what certain knives are capable of, but I think that cutting ability is far and away the most most important aspect of a knife's performance. That goes for fixed blades as well as folders.

------------------
Cerulean

"Just because some folks think you make great kydex sheaths doesn't make you into some sort of mind reading psychologist." -Paracelsus

[This message has been edited by cerulean (edited 03-27-2000).]

 

[not2sharp]

Cerulian,

In my mind I have come to equate Large Camp Knives with Hatchets (note I said hatchet, as in not axe or 3/4 camp axe). They are readilly interchangeable; although, I tend to find the camp knife more versatile and somewhat easier to use then most hatchets.

I expect the edge to be somewhat more aggressive then a hatchets, but also much heavier and tougher than what I want on a general utility knife.

 

[AJ]

I use my knives for cutting. I uses axes (and hatchets) for chopping.

AJ

 

[Allen Blade]

Hello,

I Use one of My Combat Patrol Bowies in 1/4
stock full flat grind and it does everything
in the woods i have ever wanted it to do. with the Distal tapered flat grind it Chops well,and also does fine detail work if needed. I think any large knife ground well can do the same thing. I dont carry a folder much in the woods i think just because the other can fill its role just as well.

my .02
Allen

 

[Paracelsus]

I agree with Cerulean. I suppose I should, he is running around quoting some silly thing I said in some silly thread for some silly reason.

I love fixed blades. None of mine are longer than 5.5 inches long. None of them were designed for chopping. Most are balanced just behind the guard for control. I use them for cutting. Not for chopping. At least, not for chopping that could be better handled by a hatchet. I need to get one of those ulechets that some folks are always recommending.

Paracelsus, slicer

 

[stab1]

If you are going to chop celery, use a knife. If you are going to chop small limbs for a fire or a half shelter, use a hachet. If you are going to build a log cabin,use an axe.

Chopping is a relative term.

 

[Ben E Hana]

I saw a guy at the dojo chopping boards with his hands.

I guess chopping is relative

troy

 

[Cougar Allen]

Um ... Paracelsus ... if you don't own a knife that's designed for chopping ... how do you know it could be done better with a hatchet?

-Cougar :{)

 

[Paracelsus]

Um...Cougar...I didn't mean to say chopping could be done Better with a hatchet, only that I prefered the small knife/hatchet combo. In fact, I rarely need a hatchet. Fire wood, when you Can build a fire, is usually plentiful on the ground in a condition that does not require a Big Knife or a hatchet. I am not trying to claim one is better than the other. Just stating my preference. BTW: I do have friends and relatives who are big fans of big knives. They let me use them sometimes when I don't seem to be in a particularly Bad mood.

Paracelsus, being prodded and poked

[This message has been edited by Paracelsus (edited 03-28-2000).]