Batoning Broken Down

C

CM_Rick

Joined
Jan 10, 2011
Messages
1,402
I am new here on the forums, but I have already noticed a two sided opinion on BATONING. I have really only read it being mentioned for preping fire wood. From this application I have read several comments on how it is "the measure of a knife" or just plain useless. So I want to clear the air and hash out the pros and cons of the technique.

What I use it for is quite a bit fire related, but not just for preping fire wood. If you cannot find a straight enough stick for a drill, hand or bow, batoning one out is a great way of getting a nice straight piece of wood to whittle one out. Also, batoning out the fire board or a cooking plank.

It is the same idea as using an ax or hatchet, but much more controlled and precise. You could baton out a 1/8" thick piece of wood if you wanted to with practice. Plus, it is another way of carrying less gear, which is a goal of my own. To carry less and less gear all the time and getting more self reliant.

I'm sure there are some more practical applications for batoning that I have not mentioned, so if anyone wants to chime in with a pro or a con, please do so. It is just my belief that batoning is a worth while skill to become proficient at, when practicing and perfecting the art of survival.
 
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All kidding aside, the topic can get pretty heated. There is a fine line between good technique and wild unbridled stupidity. I believe the air has already been cleared about 2 dozen times and the posts usually do not end well. This post would also get better responses in the WSS subforum. ;)
 
^haha, just spit coffee on my keyboard laughing.

It looks like you mean well, but the topic has been fairly well discussed. No sense beating a dead horse.

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I've batoned using a BK-7, short Kabar, Timberline Workhorse(folder), home-made file knives, Yari, Vic Forester, Camillis Heat, and numerous others both fixed and folders.

Some people attempt to SPLIT wood with thier knives.

Batoning to me, is essentially making kindling. Some notching of wood would also be acceptable. I believe letting the sharp blade do the cutting, not brute force.
Batoning, IMO, is more of a tapping of the spine, not pounding.
 
ya, I realize WSS would've been a better spot for this. If a mod would move this, I would appreciate it.

Thanks
 
In all my life I never needed batonin to save my life or even to light a fire!
Batoning is a new MODA born on the NET to beat the crap out of the knife for fun, entertainment, amusement, enjoyment call what you want!
The need to batonnig real takes extreme that can even I can image:rolleyes:
If batoning floats your boat and you find it useful that's great, but it seems like it's something a lot of knife guyz do for fun or to show everyone that they have a bad ass knife and/or they are a bad ass woodman.....a few may even believe it is something you need to do to build a fire and survive (it aint)
Clearly we can not Say That Every knife can take the baton without be broke or get bust ..
I you are in bad situation ask you self few questions before starting Batoning....
# Do I know how to do baton in the Coret way?
# Is my first time I use this knife?
# Can I trust the knife that I have tha will not break on me?
# Do I have any tool sharp my knife?
# Do I know how to sharpening a knife in the field? ect ect

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When carving wooden spoons or other carving, I will often make a stop cut and then baton/split the wood to rough out a basic shape.

Batoning wood is essentially using a knife in place of a traditional froe.
 
For one thing, I'm lazy and swinging an axe over your heard sounds like far too much work. I've also found that sometimes a small axe just doesn't have enough splitting force for larger logs. When you've got quite a lot of wood to process I find batoning to be the most efficient use of energy, the safest and the most precise.

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It makes perfectly good sense to baton a fireboard or flat plank for cooking, but some can overdo it when it comes to gnarly or knotted wood (or battoning a 5 foot length of wood like Pitdog:eek:). I typically keep my battoning needs to smaller pieces where I just need to get to the dry insides for smaller kindling. As HandofCod mentioned, it’s much safer, especially for children, but the proper technique is needed so you don’t overstress the hilt or try to baton a piece larger than your blade. You’ll find different opinions on it and it really comes down to location, needs and experience. Some have just never had the need and others find it the most efficient way to process wood in their area for their needs. I found when I was living in Central Texas, I never really needed to baton as everything was quite dry and easy to chop pieces off for smaller kindling. In the PNW or even in the NW Georgia mountains, these very wet areas almost make it mandatory to chop or split wood so you can get to the dry insides. Once a decent fire is going you can burn the larger pieces, but for me, battoning was critical for getting to dry wood.

ROCK6
 
I use batoning alot. For split wood fire, for spoons, for bowdrill hearth, for cutting boards and fire bases.....etc..

Nothing wrong with it IMO, and a skill as important shouldnt be overlooked.
 
Battoning is not a new thing. The name of it is though. The use of a blade whether long or short to split wood with a mallet or batton has been used for many years.
Even the old time campers used it and talk about it. Horace Kephart has a pic of its use in his Camping book.

Also this is not beating a dead horse, as we have new people joining this great site all the time.

Bryan
 
Iz (Bindlestich) gives a really great set of knife technique demos in the thread below, many of which employ batoning methods.

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=808145

I agree with the OP that most people who hate the technique usually only think about its use for splitting large rounds of wood. As Iz demonstrates, it can be used to great effect on making notches, shaping wood, controlled cross cuts etc. The guys who think of it as extreme only ever consider extreme examples. For myself, not batoning would remove about 25% of the versatility of my knife and yes, I would have to carry a hatchet or an axe wherever I go. But as it stands, I can get away with just a knife or if I chose to bring an axe then I can do that too. It really doesn't have to be an either/or situation.
 
I can never understand the big issue with battoning, if ya find using a hatchet or small axe easier then obviously that's the route you should take. I just find it easier to make small kindling using a knife.
This was a little video I did yesterday using my Mark Wohlwend Booshway...

[youtube]O7HmZsBEy8g[/youtube]
 
The most important thing to remember while batoning, is to make sure the blade edge is facing what you are batoning through, not the baton.

Used tool for what they are for, some knives are more designed for it than others, be smart and you will be less likely to break crap.

yes I am being a smart ass.
 
EricV said:
^haha, just spit coffee on my keyboard laughing.

It looks like you mean well, but the topic has been fairly well discussed. No sense beating a dead horse.

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Click to expand...
I believe it is referred to, in this case, as "Batoning a dead horse"...
 
I just don't want to come off as some jerk showing off for photos with his big knife. I teach this technique to scouts from age 9 and up, because it is a safe way to process large wood and useful for making certain tools. I think it is a very beneficial survival skill purely for its safety and low energy consumption as compared to the ax or hatchet.

Thank you for all of the added support and pros for this. We have yet to hear one good con.
 
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