Batoning

Pretty sure people who say pack an axe have only seen baton videos on the youtoob. Packing extra weight, and a lot of it, that's bulky and awkwardly shaped at that is nowhere even necessary or needed and teaches hikers real quick they need to upgrade the woodsmansh skills after the first time they pack one. I just did a two night two camps hike trip this week and my son or I didn't pack an axe and we didn't need one. Yup, we split wood with our knives, did perfect getting at dry heart wood. People who baton for its intended purpose of a cooking and warming up fire aren't splitting a winters worth of house heating piles of wood. You rarely need anything longer than 4" so all the youtubecrafters you see aren't a realistic interpretation of what's really going on. On top of that, over many decades I have yet to see overnight hikers with an axe with them. Not one single time and I've hiked and camped on the trails all over the USA. so I'm kinda wondering what kind of camping/hiking people are doing where they tell people they need to take an axe or splitting maul on a hike. That's like saying you need a .375 H&H on a cull deer hunt.

Not saying people don't use them but as of right now from what I've seen, done and experienced not a single hiker takes a felling axe or maul on over night hikes. What kind of hiking/camping are Yall doing that requires an axe or maul?
 
trevitrace said:
Why's your maul have a lanyard/fob hole?

I'd think a rabbit's foot would make a better keychain bauble.
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For a wrist strap, can be helpful especially if you're using a tire while splitting as they can take a good bounce and really twist your wrist.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H2d2GTBga6I



Batoning is fine if you're using a sturdy enough knife and splitting up small enough wood. Its a handy way to get thumb width pieces of wood off a larger log. It gets out of hand when people start being stupid though, batoning to take down an 18" tree? No. I love my axe and it isn't the most fun to pack but an alternative is a steel wedge, or a hatchet not a stick tang hunting knife.
 
AreBeeBee said:
One can always contrive situations that provide an excuse to whack a knife into a chunk of wood, but real necessity? Nope.
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kvaughn said:
50+ yr hunting,fishing,camping and just running around in the woods. 4 yrs in the military with a lot of time in the field. I've NEVER batonned a knife. Use the right tool for the job. If you have to split something in the woods, whittle yourself a wedge.--KV
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It was really, really wet.
The surrounding area flooded.
It did not stop raining at all.

The only way it would have worked well without batonning that time would have been to stay at home...I have found no need to baton at home for almost 39 years now (since we're listing years of doing stuff now ;) ).
 
I have never had to baton arm sized dead wood camping for a fire. But I have never used one of the twig stoves that you see now and for them, splitting wood to thin pieces would be a useful approach or you just scrounge for the smaller stuff and go with that. There are times where the wood is absolutely soaked. It is not something that I ran into as a big problem camping (mostly car camping) as I could almost always get a fire going and then place the wetter bigger stuff on top to dry like Stabman did. His fire looks like a pyre. Were you sacrificing a lamb? :D

As far as useful knives go..... I have lots of knives. Way more than I use or need. I got a BK-15 this spring and it has become my go to knife for woods wandering and camping if I only can have one fixed blade. I usually will have a folder with me too regardless. The BK-2 and ESEE-5 are both tanks and uncomfortable to use much other than splitting wood. But that isn't what I get a knife for. The BK-16 and BK-17 are both useful sizes for general stuff; not too big and not too small and not extremely expensive. But I like the BK-15 and recommend you consider that. You can always get something else later as it is half the price of many of these knives you're considering and just as useful.

If you want something a bit heavier duty, consider the BK-10 or Ritter BK-12. They aren't bad and are useful.
 
22-rimfire said:
There are times where the wood is absolutely soaked. It is not something that I ran into as a big problem camping (mostly car camping) as I could almost always get a fire going and then place the wetter bigger stuff on top to dry like Stabman did. His fire looks like a pyre. Were you sacrificing a lamb? :D
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Nah, we had to limit ourselves to sacrificing sausages. :D
I did learn a new (to me) way of cooking a steak outdoors though, so next time, it's going to be time for woods steak. :thumbup:

Once the fire was going, it was great; just place the wood on and watch it burn.
Least amount of energy used is generally the name of the game...last time out it was easy to start the fire with busted-up twigs and sticks that were laying around on the ground.
 
stabman said:
Nah, we had to limit ourselves to sacrificing sausages. :D
I did learn a new (to me) way of cooking a steak outdoors though, so next time, it's going to be time for woods steak. :thumbup:

Once the fire was going, it was great; just place the wood on and watch it burn.
Least amount of energy used is generally the name of the game...last time out it was easy to start the fire with busted-up twigs and sticks that were laying around on the ground.
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We wash a nice sized smooth rock real good and let the fire warm it to cooking temp. Works great. I'm about to head out on another overnighter out back just because. We're taking ham this time.
 
Boris74 said:
We wash a nice sized smooth rock real good and let the fire warm it to cooking temp. Works great. I'm about to head out on another overnighter out back just because. We're taking ham this time.
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A rock can make a really nice cooking surface. :)
Ham is a good choice too.
 
22-rimfire said:
Don't forget the bacon.
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And lobster. :D

I've had shrimp out in the woods, and that was pretty great, but lobster would be epic.

I plan on trying a woods mega-feast this winter; with the bugs all gone, it should be possible to cook and enjoy lots of food, and more stuff can be dragged on a sled than carried.
 
Sounds like a lot of fun with 4-5 people drinking beer (or your favorite beverage), talking, playing with woods toys, cooking, eating and so forth.
 
22-rimfire said:
Sounds like a lot of fun with 4-5 people drinking beer (or your favorite beverage), talking, playing with woods toys, cooking, eating and so forth.
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Exactly!
And the food provides a focus for it all...there's a good reason that festivals in every culture tend to center around food. :thumbup:
 
stabman said:
Exactly!
And the food provides a focus for it all...there's a good reason that festivals in every culture tend to center around food. :thumbup:
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That is precisely what Ethan Becker does with his "gatherings" down here in TN. I have not attended one of those yet. Been lazy more than anything or work gets in the way. But folks have a lot of fun talking blades, eating, drinking, shooting, and so forth.
 
Boris74 said:
We wash a nice sized smooth rock real good and let the fire warm it to cooking temp. Works great. I'm about to head out on another overnighter out back just because. We're taking ham this time.
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IIRC, I was taught back in the day to be careful not to do this with rocks such as shale or slate because water can seep between the layers and when it's heated enough...Ka-boom! Sharp pieces of rock flying every which - way. Other than that, I 'spect it's a good idea.
 
22-rimfire said:
That is precisely what Ethan Becker does with his "gatherings" down here in TN. I have not attended one of those yet. Been lazy more than anything or work gets in the way. But folks have a lot of fun talking blades, eating, drinking, shooting, and so forth.
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You should totally get to one of those.
It looks like everyone who's attended has really enjoyed it.

Heck, I remember the one time we managed to get a decent sized gathering here in Canada, when kgd was active here and the first Peche Island gathering happened.
Somehow, events like that manage to recapture the fun of "show and tell", but up the ante with the venue, and the types of things adults can own that kids cannot.
 
If the weather has rain in the forecast, and open fires are appropriate (and legal), bring a sharp hatchet. You'll get far more usable firewood, including fuzz sticks and tiny tinder, quickly that way than by whanging on your knife.
 
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