Batoning wood....??? Youtube videos......?

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kickplate69

Joined
Jan 26, 2011
Messages
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First off- apologies to the likelihood that this topic has been covered, but I'm new here and would like to learn what I can from those with more experience than me.
OK so I realize that the whole concept for the survival knife is that you might need to baton wood for fire, shelter, etc. I get it. My problem at the end of watching a bunch of youtubers beat the hide off their knives is the idea that they are using the wrong tool for the job, and then they act so hurt when their blade gets chipped or broken. Hmmm. I would think that if you are going to backpack in and save weight then use a folding saw for the big stuff and use your survival knife ( insert brand here ) to take tangential sides off the logs, and process only what you need, and not to try to go thru an 8" diameter piece of knotty wood.
Im to the point that anyone batoning wood on youtube to "see how tough the knife is" is the same tard who probably wants to see how far their truck will go with no oil in the engine.
Thanks for reading-any comments appreciated.
 
You sound like you have some common sense. I've only needed to baton once. It was my 1st backpacking trip, and everything was wet. We had no fire, cause I had no knife, saw, or axe to cut wood. Nor did I have any knowledge of these things.
After that, although I had the tools, I haven't needed to do it, that's been 20 years ago.
 
Theres a good thread in the ESEE forum about this titled, "batoning large pieces of wood is not neccessary." It's a pretty good read.
 
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kickplate69 said:
OK so I realize that the whole concept for the survival knife is that you might need to baton wood for fire, shelter, etc. I get it.
Click to expand...

Actually, the whole concept for the survival knife is so that you can make youtube videos showing you batoning wood for fire, shelter, etc. ;)

Seriously, to baton or not to baton is frequently and hotly debated on Bladeforms. I've done some batoning. It's a fun workout for you and your knife. I think that's the best reason in favor of it.
 
Batoning is a very useful skill, and sometimes the only way to get dry wood.

But contrary to what is shown on youtube, it is much more than beating a knife through a log, just as sharpening is more than rubbing a knife on a rock.
 
kickplate69 said:
First off- apologies to the likelihood that this topic has been covered, but I'm new here and would like to learn what I can from those with more experience than me.
OK so I realize that the whole concept for the survival knife is that you might need to baton wood for fire, shelter, etc. I get it. My problem at the end of watching a bunch of youtubers beat the hide off their knives is the idea that they are using the wrong tool for the job, and then they act so hurt when their blade gets chipped or broken. Hmmm. I would think that if you are going to backpack in and save weight then use a folding saw for the big stuff and use your survival knife ( insert brand here ) to take tangential sides off the logs, and process only what you need, and not to try to go thru an 8" diameter piece of knotty wood.
Im to the point that anyone batoning wood on youtube to "see how tough the knife is" is the same tard who probably wants to see how far their truck will go with no oil in the engine.
Thanks for reading-any comments appreciated.
Click to expand...

Welcome to BF! Insightful observations.

Batoning is a technique for people who haven't learned any real outdoor skills. If you take this away, most people are stuck with a big knife and nothing else to do. I learned batoning as a technique in the 1980's, but I haven't needed to use it in 30+ years of backpacking in the Sierras and Rockies.
 
Even the smallest slip joint folder should be capable of batoning through any piece of wood so long as the wood is 1/2 inch thinner than the length of the blade.

If it is not capable of this task, we should make videos demonstrating the failure and start rant discussions to illustrate to the world that the knife is not capable of such activities (but it should be) ;)

Seriously though. YouTube is FULL of videos that are designed not to educate or inform, but to generate VIEWS. It seems that many people get a real kick out of finding ways to generate views. Breaking stuff, getting people hurt, and legitimately making good educational or informative videos are all proven ways to get views.

I really think that if we lived in a world without web videos, there would be a lot less knives getting broken...I could be wrong...
 
Here is my take on batoning with a folder, be it locking blade or slipjoint. Secret is not to try an whack the crap out of everything. I take it a small piece at a time. This technique is available I believe on Bark River's website somewhere as a pdf. Of course this is last resort only. I have a good axe, machete and saw that I would rather use before anything else.

[youtube]5uzLoeEG9Dg[/youtube]

[youtube]dFVcj08WPdE[/youtube]
 
marthinus said:
Here is my take on batoning with a folder, be it locking blade or slipjoint. Secret is not to try an whack the crap out of everything. I take it a small piece at a time. This technique is available I believe on Bark River's website somewhere as a pdf. Of course this is last resort only. I have a good axe, machete and saw that I would rather use before anything else.

[youtube]5uzLoeEG9Dg[/youtube]

[youtube]dFVcj08WPdE[/youtube]
Click to expand...

Watching you baton with that sebbie made me cry, just a little bit. that is most definitely what that piece of art was for. just my $.02
 
Personally, I've never once batoned wood. Twenty+ years of hiking/camping in both summer and winter conditions, and I haven't needed to do it. Once you have a fire lit, the fire itself will do the rest of the work for you. It will dry frozen/wet fuel and even 'split' wood for you. But perhaps I have only experienced an incredibly long streak of good luck... ;)
 
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Battoning seems like a fad to me. It's annoying how often I see pics, videos and comments about it. I can see a need for it under rare circumstances.
 
I think the point of the videos is to have fun. Also, they show the tougher tasks that a knive "might" need to do in a real survival situation. Or they show how some knives fall apart trying! A survival situation is much different than packpacking and camping because you get to choose when you camp and packpack but rarely get to choose when you will break your leg a days hike from home or get shot down in enemy territory. Since most hike and camp in fair weather they rarely need to find dry wood to get a fire started in downpour. This is why some knives are called Survival Knives and not Camp Knives.

Plus, think how boring a video showing a survival knife cutting rope or spreading peanut butter would be! Or how about showing a knive do what it really does for most people on a hike; sits on a belt (or in the pack) and never comes out of its sheath! Fun video!

Battoning videos are also better than computer desk videos which, if you haven't noticed, comprise 98% of the knife reviews on the internet. They are always the ones that say things like, "I'm sure this will be a good combat knife" says the 13 year old or, "this knive will really baton wood well.... I think" says the NYC resident that thinks the sidewalk through Central Park is "the wilderness!"!

Go outside and have fun! Take your favorite knife, a video camera, the wife and kids and just go outside! And no, you can't take the laptop or the IPad or your Crackberry. If you really want a rush, take off your shoes and feel the grass!!! Oooooooooo, nice!

Bill
Virginia
 
Why is this becoming a constant issue?

If you want to baton, do it.

If you do not want to baton, don't do it.

No single idea or concept, like batoning, needs to be adopted by 100% of the knife user community.
 
CWL said:
Batoning is a technique for people who haven't learned any real outdoor skills.
Click to expand...

Well, that's not true (although for many people it may be).
But batonning is a very easy skill to learn.
If you said that people should concentrate on other skills after the 10 minutes needed to learn proper batonning technique, I'd agree.:)
 
JMAN86 said:
Why is this becoming a constant issue?
Click to expand...

It's a symptom of how ridiculously easy all our lives are.:)
Really, that's what it boils down to.
"Pepsi is better!", "No, Coke is!", "Nuh uh, vitamin water is!"...
Ah, the difficulties of the North American/European lifestyle.
 
Battoning is a great tecknique for getting flat piece of wood or to take of matterial more quickly for a carving or cooking project. I don't think i've ever used it for a fire other than on a sunny day when i had nothing to do and a piece of crap knife to destroy :)
 
I sometimes find it ironic that so many blade enthusiasts will sing the song of using the right tool for the right job and then split logs with a knife. What's really crazy, I aggree, is that lately people seem to equate a quality outdoor knife with one that will batons well. It's a fad.
 
Check out my Batoning Broken down thread over in WSS. It is a really good one with lots of great info and advice on proper technique.
 
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