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

I will say that there is a strange amount of emphasis of batonning at times.:confused:
Useful at times? Yep.:thumbup:
Needed all that often? Not really (sometimes, but not too often).
 
Just wanted all of the batoners to know, that my proper batoning technique is better and more proper, then your proper batoning technique! :jerkit:
 
stabman said:
Which goes back well over a hundred years...
But you know how fads are.:)
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Touche. It has probably been done for much, much longer that that. I've done plenty of batoning and there are times when it's just easier than using a hatchet or anything else. My point is that lately there's become a false notion, helped along by youtube, that a knife just isn't a knife unless you can hammer it through a frozen oak log to save yourself from hypothermia. It's become some sort of benchmark for a quality outdoor knife. Until recently, though, I doubt many people were using knives this way. Try this.. next time you're camping in a public campground go around and tally up the number of people who even know what batoning is. I have to explain it all the time. Even recently to the local knife shop owner who's been in business sharpening and selling knives for years. He sold me a hatchet. ;)
 
stabman said:
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.
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This topic is a perfect example of our individualistic western society.

We can all thank Capitalism and Christianity.

Remember kids, just because YOU don't agree with batoning doesn't mean someone who does is incorrect. OMG he used logic, rly!!!???
 
stabman said:
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.:)
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I think we're in agreement here. If you throw one of these "look at me baton!" guys into the wilderness for a weekend, they will have no clue what to do for shelter, water, signaling or how to navigate back to safety.
 
Bruno10 said:
My point is that lately there's become a false notion, helped along by youtube, that a knife just isn't a knife unless you can hammer it through a frozen oak log to save yourself from hypothermia. It's become some sort of benchmark for a quality outdoor knife.
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I certainly agree with you there.:)
 
CWL said:
I think we're in agreement here. If you throw one of these "look at me baton!" guys into the wilderness for a weekend, they will have no clue what to do for shelter, water, signaling or how to navigate back to safety.
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True enough.
I think the operative part is the "look at me!" factor.:cool:
 
Ankerson said:
Yeah, I have been doing it since the 70's when needed....
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Bruno10 said:
Touche. It has probably been done for much, much longer that that. I've done plenty of batoning and there are times when it's just easier than using a hatchet or anything else. My point is that lately there's become a false notion, helped along by youtube, that a knife just isn't a knife unless you can hammer it through a frozen oak log to save yourself from hypothermia. It's become some sort of benchmark for a quality outdoor knife. Until recently, though, I doubt many people were using knives this way. Try this.. next time you're camping in a public campground go around and tally up the number of people who even know what batoning is. I have to explain it all the time. Even recently to the local knife shop owner who's been in business sharpening and selling knives for years. He sold me a hatchet. ;)
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What's a hatchet?
 
mistercory said:
What's a hatchet?
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A knife is both safer and more versatile in the woods than a hatchet or an axe.

You don't want any kind of injuries out in the middle of nowhere believe me.

I would rather have a saw and a knife than a Hatchet or an AXE.
 
Regardless of whether batoning is a "fad" I think it's more popular than I can recall and I think a good argument could be made that it's currently emphasized out of proportion to its importance compared to other outdoor skills.

On the other hand, I see it a good clean fun, when kept in perspective, so I don't see the need to rain on the batoning parade. I see batoning v. not batoning threads as about as useful as "is the XXXX knife worth it?" threads. Advocates and detractors are going to argue endlessly (batoning has been beaten to death--pun intended) and I think individuals need to figure out for themselves what's right for them. Been in the wilderness for most of your 95 years and never batoned? You're good to go. Been batoning since the Great Depression? Atta boy.

But I don't see this thread as merely batoning is good or bad. The other facet of the thread is the proliferation of batoning youtube videos. Good or bad, batoning is popular. The same is true of youtube. There's a synergy between them--they promote each other. Anyone else see this synergy?

But what I really need to know--is it "batoning" or "batonning"? I mean, wouldn't the "o" in "batoning" be pronounced as a long "o" as in "tone?" Think about it.

Or maybe we just need a baton(n)ing thread-free/is XXXX knife worth it?-free March.
 
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Can we just post the photos of all the knives breaking while batoning already? Then we can bicker about proper technique followed closely by "and that was Cold Steel and Nutnfancy anyway, he doesn't count". Then comes "right tool for the job" which is countered by "safety first". After that people post random pictures of batoning, or not batoning as the case may be.

In the end the thread dies a slow death almost inevitably with an uneasy truce, waiting for the next batoning thread to sprout.
 
KeithAM said:
But what I really need to know--is it "batoning" or "batonning"? I mean, wouldn't the "o" in "batoning" be pronounced as a long "o" as in "tone?" Think about it.
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I too worry about grammar issues in the Cold Steel rants. But I have noticed a correlation between the use of "texting type grammar " and CS haters.

These are the armchair anglers of the knife world showing their inability to deal with a confident male figure in their lives. It scares them when a man orders a cup of regular coffee instead of a triple shot non-fat mocha latte with extra whipped cream, Madagascar cinnamon and some sprinkles! Similarly, if their knife doesn't have cocobolo handles with giraffe bone spacers and a bolster made of the bone of a mountain sheep harvested during the rut, with a combo scandi/convex edge and highly polished experimental VG-18x metal, they aren't happy...

Lynn just blows their mind and they have to throw a breath holding, foot stomping hissy fit every time his name is mentioned. Just like bringing up George Bush, it gets their panties all bunched up! Hey, I should write Lynn and ask him to make a Cold Steel George Bush Commemorative Knife!!! Holly crap that would leave a standing room only situation in the nation's mental ward! Introducing the George "Bush" Knife!?! Get it?? Bush knife??? Bush is the name of the old President and also the name of some knives!?!

Or you could just call it W... That letter really makes them come unglued!

Oh but wait, does it baton well? :confused:
Bill
Virginia
 
Good or bad, batoning is popular. The same is true of youtube. There's a synergy between them--they promote each other. Anyone else see this synergy?
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Indeed they are popular. I can watch good & bad batoning vids for awhile. Cheap entetainment but I don't know what this synergy is that you'r talking about. Is that an energy drink? And, what do energy drinks have to do with batoning videos. Is batoning that hard to do? :)
 
shortwinger said:
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!
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+! :thumbup::thumbup::D:thumbup::thumbup:

Ankerson said:
A knife is both safer and more versatile in the woods than a hatchet or an axe.

You don't want any kind of injuries out in the middle of nowhere believe me.

I would rather have a saw and a knife than a Hatchet or an AXE.
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+1:thumbup::thumbup:
I'd like to add that a knife is also commonly less weight and more compact than a hatchet or axe, performance level being equal, making it the preferred choice for backpacking, etc.

I also add my complaint about desktop HYPE videos, overuse of theoretical and hyperbolic statements like "this knife is ultra-durable" or "indestructible" or "can take anything you throw at it", etc. without limit-testing demonstrations to the point or even use-demonstrations.:thumbdn:

If I'm researching a knife for outdoor use, I'm more likely to 'view' the video showing it in use - if that use is batonning wood, *shrug*. $0.02
 
After I saw the Tosh.O vid about the CS Great Sword I decided to take batoning to a whole new level. I'm selling my large knives and buying a Great Sword to baton with. It will also do well for ambushing bears from tree tops. Not bad versatility for the weight carried, dontchathink? Other hikers will leave me the hell alone and the non-serrated blade will be easy to sharpen on a rock. I'm having a kydex sheath made for it!!! Maybe use it for a necker around town. At the very least it will be a great backup for my chainsaw on longer treks.
 
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