Batoning is not such a great idea, right?

How many times?

Ummm, every single time I go camping or playing in the woods.

With a folder? Nope, not yet anyway.

With a Fixed blade? Yep, every time. :D
 
I've used my small CGG sebenza to baton through 3-4 fire logs in an emergency. I've only done it once, but its nice to know that it can do it in an emergency when you have nothing else. So yes, there are times when you need to baton through something. :thumbup:
 
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.
+1 on this. Batoning with folders can be very unsafe. With the possible exception of the Rajah I/II and a video on YouTube shows that a BK2 at 1/2 the price did a much better job. I don't know of any folder that has enough length to do a good job just because of the length of the blade. That being said I have used my TOPS Smoke Jumper for this and it cleaves would like butter including Oak. (Haven't done Ironwood or Maple). The knife was specifically built for this and it is a great outdoor knife. What you don't want is that you are dragging 50 lbs+ of gear when it starts to rain and you are out there building shelters and splitting wood for a fire with a 3" folder.
 
Last edited:
I've used my small CGG sebenza to baton through 3-4 fire logs in an emergency. I've only done it once, but its nice to know that it can do it in an emergency when you have nothing else. So yes, there are times when you need to baton through something. :thumbup:


Out of curiosity what was the emergency that required the logs be in smaller pieces? Was there no smaller pieces around to use as kindling? Not trying to be a jerk, just trying to understand the circumstances of an emergency that requires batoning wood with a folder. Thanks.
 
Nope. Never need to baton anything. I just stop and buy a bundle of firewood before driving to my campsite. :D
 
Out of curiosity what was the emergency that required the logs be in smaller pieces? Was there no smaller pieces around to use as kindling? Not trying to be a jerk, just trying to understand the circumstances of an emergency that requires batoning wood with a folder. Thanks.

We had a big snow storm here in Seattle in 08 and the power was out for a few days. (Keep in mind, that when Seattle gets snow 1-3" is almost enough to cause the city to go into shutdown mode) I walked to my friends house (about 1 foot of snow) and only his wife and child were home.

Long story short, they didn't have an Axe or anything else to split firewood with. The wife was trying to start the fire but she couldn't get anything going. She was burning paper and cardboard to try to warm themselves. The 2 year old kid was wearing layers and layers of clothes with gloves, blankets and everything but his hands were still blue. She also had attempted to just throw a log onto the fire and light the paper/cardboard but that wasn't working either.

All I had on me was my small sebenza and seeing the condition they were in, I didn't really think of another solution. There were no small pieces with the wood they had. The last thing I would want to do was smack my less then 1 month old $400 small sebenza with a piece of wood into another piece of wood. :eek: However, in that situation, I had no other choice.

Good news was the fire was started, the sebenza performed fine. No damage to the lock, blade etc. The screws did get a bit loose, but that was an easy fix. :thumbup:

I'm sure other folders could have done the same tasks, but I know first hand that small sebenza can handle it. That is why I now own 3 and don't really carry any other folders.

Also forgot to mention that many cities in WA do not allow carry of a fixed blade regardless of length. IE: Seattle says you can carry up to 3.5" folder but any fixed blade regardless of blade length is not allowed concealed or exposed.
 
Last edited:
We had a big snow storm here in Seattle in 08 and the power was out for a few days. (Keep in mind, that when Seattle gets snow 1-3" is almost enough to cause the city to go into shutdown mode) I walked to my friends house (about 1 foot of snow) and only his wife and child were home.

Long story short, they didn't have an Axe or anything else to split firewood with. The wife was trying to start the fire but she couldn't get anything going. She was burning paper and cardboard to try to warm themselves. The 2 year old kid was wearing layers and layers of clothes with gloves, blankets and everything but his hands were still blue. She also had attempted to just throw a log onto the fire and light the paper/cardboard but that wasn't working either.

All I had on me was my small sebenza and seeing the condition they were in, I didn't really think of another solution. There were no small pieces with the wood they had. The last thing I would want to do was smack my less then 1 month old $400 small sebenza with a piece of wood into another piece of wood. :eek: However, in that situation, I had no other choice.

Good news was the fire was started, the sebenza performed fine. No damage to the lock, blade etc. The screws did get a bit loose, but that was an easy fix. :thumbup:

I'm sure other folders could have done the same tasks, but I know first hand that small sebenza can handle it. That is why I now own 3 and don't really carry any other folders.

Also forgot to mention that many cities in WA do not allow carry of a fixed blade regardless of length. IE: Seattle says you can carry up to 3.5" folder but any fixed blade regardless of blade length is not allowed concealed or exposed.

I remember that snowstorm. Fortunately in our neck of the woods the power was restored within hours.

Quick question: wouldn't it be easier and more practical to baton with kitchen knives?
 
people are so foolish, batoning is obviously an equal and viable if not superior method of splitting wood. there is nothing to think about, discuss, or be offended by.
 
Baton naked!
I assumed that went without saying... :confused:

Seriously: You can split logs by batoning, or with an axe. I don't really know of any other practical way.
An axe is too specialized a tool for me to bring along on a camping trip, so I use whatever fixed blade I have on me, and it works like a charm.
It's the only batoning I do, and I do it quite a bit (when camping). So yes, there is very much a need for it, and for the knives that can handle it without ill effect.
 
Batoning? Sounds completely useless... especially when you have a perfectly good axe in the car. (sarcasm... and yes I did have an axe handy, it was actually useless because the logs were too big!)

batoning1.jpg


batoning2.jpg

Axe - 0
Recon Scout - 1
 
Batoning? Sounds completely useless... especially when you have a perfectly good axe in the car. (sarcasm... and yes I did have an axe handy, it was actually useless because the logs were too big!)

batoning1.jpg


batoning2.jpg

Axe - 0
Recon Scout - 1
Yep, when they're that big, a long knife will do better. :thumbup:
 
We just have a wood stove here, and I've used an axe all my life to split wood for it. Yes, we all know that axes work. But when I go backpacking out into the middle of nowhere, I don't want to be totin' around a big ol' axe, I'd rather bring a big ol' knife and baton my way through firewood. For me at least, it's safer than using an axe, it's a more lightweight and portable tool, and a knife is useful for so many things so why bother with an axe? I think a folding saw and a good knife will do you more good for less weight than an axe.
 
We had a big snow storm here in Seattle in 08 and the power was out for a few days. (Keep in mind, that when Seattle gets snow 1-3" is almost enough to cause the city to go into shutdown mode) I walked to my friends house (about 1 foot of snow) and only his wife and child were home.

Long story short, they didn't have an Axe or anything else to split firewood with. The wife was trying to start the fire but she couldn't get anything going. She was burning paper and cardboard to try to warm themselves. The 2 year old kid was wearing layers and layers of clothes with gloves, blankets and everything but his hands were still blue. She also had attempted to just throw a log onto the fire and light the paper/cardboard but that wasn't working either.

All I had on me was my small sebenza and seeing the condition they were in, I didn't really think of another solution. There were no small pieces with the wood they had. The last thing I would want to do was smack my less then 1 month old $400 small sebenza with a piece of wood into another piece of wood. :eek: However, in that situation, I had no other choice.

Good news was the fire was started, the sebenza performed fine. No damage to the lock, blade etc. The screws did get a bit loose, but that was an easy fix. :thumbup:

I'm sure other folders could have done the same tasks, but I know first hand that small sebenza can handle it. That is why I now own 3 and don't really carry any other folders.

Also forgot to mention that many cities in WA do not allow carry of a fixed blade regardless of length. IE: Seattle says you can carry up to 3.5" folder but any fixed blade regardless of blade length is not allowed concealed or exposed.

You could have open carried a machete sized blade on a welfare check during a snowstorm. Probably could have concealed one without question too.:D Necessity is a complete defense to the breaking of retarded knife laws like Seattle's.

In your situation, I would have batoned her chef's knife.;)
 
beating_a_dead_horse.jpg



HIT IT AGAIN, I THINK I SAW IT MOVE!!


This is one of those topics that never fails get a good argument started. Those who don't probably never will. Those of us who do probably won't stop.
 
beating_a_dead_horse.jpg



HIT IT AGAIN, I THINK I SAW IT MOVE!!


This is one of those topics that never fails get a good argument started. Those who don't probably never will. Those of us who do probably won't stop.

:thumbup::D:D:D

Batonning: don't ask, don't tell.:D

Do it if you like, don't do it if you don't: what could be simpler?
 
Back
Top