Batoning with a folder....?

F

Furious_Toast

Joined
Jul 28, 2014
Messages
51
Okay everyone, I'm back to pick at your minds. I've read a lot lately of people batoning with folders and saying that there is a technique to it. Am I missing something? I was taught that in an emergency where batoning is your only option you should leave the blade unlocked (as in not fully opened enough to engage the lock) and gently baton. Is this it or is there an old technique that I don't know? All knowledge is welcome!

Thank you!
 
I'm no expert but that sounds like it might work. Maybe putting less stress on the pivot point and more on the blade. Still if you're looking for firewood, I'd never use a knife unless it was literally my only option. Use a hatchet, It's designed to cut wood and it wouldn't be considered "abuse" at all. Batoning, even with a fixed blade, is just something knives were not designed to do IMO
 
You're spot on. Don't use the lock at all.

But I agree that one shouldn't really be batoning with a folder.
 
"Gently baton? Is that even possible? ;)


I would guess it all depends on the length of your blade and the diameter of the stick to be split.

To put undo stress on the pivot, you'd have to either strike it or the handle with the baton.

If there is enough blade exposed so you can hit only the blade, then it shouldn't matter if the blade is locked or not since almost all the force is applied directly to the blade.

But, if there is little to no blade exposed and you have to alternate strikes to either side to penetrate, you have no choice but to strike the pivot or handle.

Pivots and locks are designed to take a level of stress. When you're slicing or ripping through something tough, all the force from your hand is transmitted through the lock and pivot.
 
Yeah like Happy Gilmore, just tap it in, tap it in, give it a little tappy, you know...tap tap tapparoo.:D

I have actually seen folks use smaller pieces of wood though to help them along though once the blade starts to split whatever they're working on. It certainly seems to help, the deeper you go, the larger the pieces you can baton into it. Eventually it'll split, but only on small sticks of wood...anything larger than that I'd have to agree with everyone else above, get a hatchet...they're just not that expensive!
 
You don't need to even beat the blade of your folder. Its simple:

Use folder to carve wedge.

Put wedge on top of log that needs splitting.

Pound wedge through log with another stick as hard as you like.

Batonning with a knife is a choice, my thinking is if I don't have to beat my knife like stole something then I won't. But hey I like my tools and want them to last. Hope I helped.
 
You would be better off always having a Victorinox or a Leatherman with a saw blade. Saw half way through the middle of a stick you need spilt then bang it against a tree. It will split most sticks down the middle pretty easily without risking damage to your knife.
 
Its still a good thing to know, so that if you felt the need to baton and only had a folder, it would be far better to know to unlock it, than not, and do more damage than needed.
 
Furious_Toast said:
I was taught that in an emergency where batoning is your only option you should leave the blade unlocked (as in not fully opened enough to engage the lock) and gently baton.
Thank you!
Click to expand...

They are still held together by a pin and taping the blade is going to cause shock to that area of the knife. Yes it can be done in a limited fashion, but you're better served using a fixed blade or learning other techniques.
 
Sure you can baton a folder, but fact is, the knife is made to fold..and I would only do it in an Emergency.
When you take the safety aspect out of the way (which is first and foremost)...the 2nd reason I would not do it unless it's an emergency is I'm not aware of way to do it without shortening the lifespan, or perhaps better said, the condition of your folder one way or another..I hate blade play in a folder..and the shock of batoning would be sure to speed up the wear and tear leading to that...and potentially a rounding of locking mechanisms that might lead to a catastrophic lock fail much after the batoning was over with.

As was so aptly put:

They are still held together by a pin and taping the blade is going to cause shock to that area of the knife. Yes it can be done in a limited fashion, but you're better served using a fixed blade or learning other techniques.
Click to expand...
:thumbup:
 
Unless you're independetly wealthy and want to do torture tests for companies you don't work for, I guess you could.

I could argue, if it's an emergency, and you already have a piece of wood to "baton" with, how are you in an emergency again?

I'm just asking because it goes against all SAR advice. ALL.
 
Can I stir the pot? Why yes I can! Simple answer- DO NOT BATON FOLDER! Period. Done. No. Stop. Your not Rambo, you don't need to use tools for unintended tasks. Saws are great. You can cut a slot on the top of a log, and take you folder carve a wedge and baton THAT! Axes are better.
 
BenHarris said:
Can I stir the pot? Why yes I can! Simple answer- DO NOT BATON FOLDER! Period. Done. No. Stop. Your not Rambo, you don't need to use tools for unintended tasks. Saws are great. You can cut a slot on the top of a log, and take you folder carve a wedge and baton THAT! Axes are better.
Click to expand...

I can stir too. ;)

[video=youtube;CMBTPo2Xgh0]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CMBTPo2Xgh0[/video]
 
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