Batoning is not such a great idea, right?

P

Peak_Oil

Joined
Nov 6, 2005
Messages
554
I see all these knife reviews where the reviewer goes over the batonability of various knives, both folders and fixed.

How often do you really get around to batoning wood in the wild? I can't imagine the last time I thought to myself, You know, I really wish I could baton through a quarter inch of this random log I found out here in the woods.

Oh, and here's a handy baton! How lucky, for me to find a baton lying there right next to a piece of wood that I could pound my pocket knife through.

I have plenty of room for a 19 inch bowie knife, but no room for a 3" tomahawk to actually blast through that wood in record time, so I'll just baton away here, as the sun goes down.

Really, do you guys plan on batoning through wood? Do you bring your own baton, or do you figure you'll pick one up as you go?
 
Using a folder is always a bad idea, I don't even like the idea of using a knife that's not full tang.

It seems to have become the new standard for some reason. Truthfull I never even heard of batoning before BF, or at least the way its shown.
 
This subject has been discussed to death...do a search and you'll find alot of threads about batoning.

To answer some of your questions...

How often do you really get around to batoning wood in the wild?
Click to expand...
All the time. I live in a wet part of the world and use batoning to prep firewood and get to the dry stuff.

Oh, and here's a handy baton! How lucky, for me to find a baton lying there right next to a piece of wood that I could pound my pocket knife through.
Click to expand...
huh?? :confused: A baton is just a stick you hammer your knife with. The forest is full of green branches and sticks. You doint have to be "lucky" to find one.
I have plenty of room for a 19 inch bowie knife, but no room for a 3" tomahawk to actually blast through that wood in record time, so I'll just baton away here, as the sun goes down.
Click to expand...

Id suggest you go out and try it before you post here. Its a effective and fast tecnhique to split wood, as long as you stay within the limits of the knife. And its fun. I dont feel like putting a 2 pound axe in my backpack, when i can prep and get a fire going with my knife.

Really, do you guys plan on batoning through wood?
Click to expand...

Yes, alot of us do. Really.
 
Last edited:
My ESEE RC4 does not have enough weught and length for chopping so i usually look for some wood to help baton it trough some other branches....works well...and i usually use this method.

Ps: if you are in a military and you carry 40LB of stuff in your rucksack for 20 miles, you really dont want to carry a 1 or 2 LB tomahawk for a 2 minute chopping session, trust me:)
 
I often see it as a part of those kind of knife tests that tells you you have a very durable knife if they pass the test, but don't tell you anything at all if they don't pass the test (and just leave you with a broken knife).
 
PropThePolecat said:
This subject has been discussed to death...do a search and you'll find alot of threads about batoning.

To answer some of your questions...


All the time. I live in a wet part of the world and use batoning to prep firewood and get to the dry stuff.


huh?? :confused: A baton is just a stick you hammer your knife with. The forest is full of green branches and sticks. You doint have to be "lucky" to find one.


Id suggest you go out and try it before you post here. Its a effective and fast tecnhique to split wood, as long as you stay within the limits of the knife. And its fun. I dont feel like putting a 2 pound axe in my backpack, when i can prep and get a fire going with my knife.



Yes, alot of us do. Really.
Click to expand...

Before you post about any subject = suggest you read a bit about it so you understand what it means.

And +1 on the above reply to your sillyness.
 
Peak_Oil said:
I see all these knife reviews where the reviewer goes over the batonability of various knives, both folders and fixed.

How often do you really get around to batoning wood in the wild? I can't imagine the last time I thought to myself, You know, I really wish I could baton through a quarter inch of this random log I found out here in the woods.

Oh, and here's a handy baton! How lucky, for me to find a baton lying there right next to a piece of wood that I could pound my pocket knife through.

I have plenty of room for a 19 inch bowie knife, but no room for a 3" tomahawk to actually blast through that wood in record time, so I'll just baton away here, as the sun goes down.

Really, do you guys plan on batoning through wood? Do you bring your own baton, or do you figure you'll pick one up as you go?
Click to expand...
In case you actually care and do read all the replys - yes I have done it with a folder,the BM skirmish that I EDC and it works with no problems.

And no its not a great idea and that is why I carry a fixed blade.
 
I don't really have occasion to baton and I don't foresee any coming my way but if a folder can survive batoning, I'd surely trust it more as a hard use than one that can't.
 
I wouldn't be inclined to use a folder but I used my BK-2 to score a clean cut in some crappy wood and then batonned through it just yesterday. It's no big deal...

Scoring the small log...
IMG00626-20100814-1357.jpg


Learning the log is way crappier than I had hoped...
IMG00627-20100814-1400.jpg


Having batonned it anyway (yes that is the tip of my moccasin in the bottom right corner)...
IMG00628-20100814-1401.jpg
 
A properly constructed outdoor knife should be able to take batoning of an appropriate level. I'd limit it to fixed blades though. By appropriate, I mean if you're using a 1/16" thick blade Mora, don't expect it to get through a huge log only slightly smaller than the blade, and don't expect to use a rock or other huge baton.

The use of the technique itself is up to the individual and, more importantly, the situation. If you plan on a multi-day hike and bring appropriate stuff, batoning shouldn't be an issue. If your plane goes down in Alaska and you have to keep warm 'til help shows up, you may be batoning your folder, whether it's a good idea or not. Technique is very important, more than the knife used.
 
Came in very handy this weekend camping, my beloved camp axe started to crack and break on me. BK-2 finally got some battle scars.

A+ Works great
 
If you have a 19" bowie knife, you can cut wood much faster than what you are saying.

Wood processing is what you are being specific about, but used judiciously, this technique can be helpful in other areas, particularly in tight quarters where swinging a larger sharpened edge can create problems.

You must realize the potential of your tool and adjust accordingly. A folder just cannot take the kind of beatings required to maintain a fire by batoning wood.
 
Last edited:
the saws that fold are lightweight along with the product called the pocket chainsaw are very light & only add a few oz. to your load. if you intend to really be "in there" & spend sometime it is folly to use your straight & or your folder to baton. hiking set trails & only spending the night one can arrord to subject their cutters to abuse. i've only had one occassion where i really needed a saw or hatchet & it was in the coastal range in early oct. in oregon. i was 12 miles in from the 1st major travel road & spent the night sleeping on my knees to conserve my body heat to prevent hypothermia. i was lucky because i remembered one hiker whom commented "if stuck do'nt push yourself to exhastion or you may never wake up". it had been raining 14 hrs. & i only had a pocketknife. all these years later i do'nt venture even a mile in the sticks w/o a granfors mini or a small folding saw.
dennis
 
OP - i don't understand it either, i've been karate chopping logs (long ways), for years. i'm almost to the point where my "KYEEE AII!" is scary enough to cause the log to split without even making contact. who needs batoning :D

actually, i DO prefer a knife that is capable of batoning for the simple fact that it seems to be alot easier to start a fire with split wood. i don't like carrying alot of gear, no hatchet for me.

now, i will say i honestly do not see the point of batoning with a folder. then again, i really only wear a folder when work requires it - i have a small waist (oh yea!) so the duty belt real estate goes fast and, at my other job, fixed blade's are discouraged. off duty... folders stay at home.
 
Peak_Oil said:
I see all these knife reviews where the reviewer goes over the batonability of various knives, both folders and fixed.

How often do you really get around to batoning wood in the wild? I can't imagine the last time I thought to myself, You know, I really wish I could baton through a quarter inch of this random log I found out here in the woods.

Oh, and here's a handy baton! How lucky, for me to find a baton lying there right next to a piece of wood that I could pound my pocket knife through.

I have plenty of room for a 19 inch bowie knife, but no room for a 3" tomahawk to actually blast through that wood in record time, so I'll just baton away here, as the sun goes down.

Really, do you guys plan on batoning through wood? Do you bring your own baton, or do you figure you'll pick one up as you go?
Click to expand...

I generally carry a fixed blade, hatchet and pocket knife and saw.
Batoning is safer (my opinion).
Batons will be there if there's something to baton through.
A 19 inch blade will "blast" just as well as a tomahawk, probably even better.
 
Hi Peak Oil -

In my area, I can easily break enough wood up using leverage and my hands/feet/body weight, to get wood sized for camping.

I have never once ever felt that I would have HAD to baton a piece of wood to get kindling, although I do not live in a climate, such as the Pacific Northwest, where rain and wet conditions are prevalent.

I think it behooves a person to know how to baton to get to the dry wood if necessary to start a fire, so I would not dismiss the notion out of hand.

It is also true that I can make more controlled cuts, make the wood the exact size I want, by batoning as opposed to using an axe or hatchet to split wood.

It seems de rigueur to baton and start a fire as part of knife reviews, not to mention it is fun and useful to be able to do so.

I would not baton with a folding knife - that is why I have my sturdy JK's and a few other fixed blades, but it is nice to see others do so in reviews so that I know I could if I absolutely needed to do so.

best regards -

mqqn
 
Peak_Oil said:
I see all these knife reviews where the reviewer goes over the batonability of various knives, both folders and fixed.

How often do you really get around to batoning wood in the wild? I can't imagine the last time I thought to myself, You know, I really wish I could baton through a quarter inch of this random log I found out here in the woods.

Really, do you guys plan on batoning through wood? Do you bring your own baton, or do you figure you'll pick one up as you go?
Click to expand...

I don't baton "in the wild" very often at all. But I do, fairly often, use a good quality knife to cut notches in lumber while framing. This is no different than batoning wood, really. Some folks use a hand saw for this, but I often use a knife and a hardwood tool handle to do the same thing, works great.

DSC03095.jpg

DSC03097.jpg


Andy
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top