Batonning v. Axing

I prefer a folding saw/big knife combo. If I was more skillful (aka not in risk of mangling toes and fingers) with a hatchet I might change my mind. Then again, I've put some hurt on fingers with a knife in the past. :o Saw/knife combo just seems so light and easy.
 
most of the wood out where I live is Australian hardwood, most often, Gidyea.

now, given the nature of Australian hardwood (eg: tougher than concrete) battoning just isn't an option outside of a true, baton-or-die survival situation.

even using my wetterlings hatchet can be a little dicey. a mis-aimed blow can put a nasty roll in the blade.

and in any event, most of the time it's not actually an issue. i generally find the lighter, smaller stuff i need, or I can snap mid sized branches if i brace them and land a well aimed kick. i save the huge logs for when the fire is going.
 
The only times I would pick a knife over an axe to split wood is if.....

1. I don't have an axe.
2. I am inside my tipi and don't have the room to mess with an axe.
3. The job is too small.
4. I don't have an axe... Hold on did I already say that?
 
dogstar said:
What's with this talk about weight? My fiskars hatchet weigh 18.6 oz. A CS trail master weighs 16.7. Throw in a sheath, and you're carrying the same weight. Besides costing a lot less, I wager the hatchet will out chop and out split the big knife. It's just simple physics. A hatchet is more efficient for doing these tasks.

I have no problem with people choosing big knives over other tools, but claims of weight savings is misguided.
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And my GB mini is 12 ounces. I can carry it and a knife for the same weight as some of the big knives people carry though I prefer my trail hawk which is a little heavier. I'll go against the grain on the fun aspect too. I find my hawk a lot more fun to chop with then a big knife/machete.
 
Shotgun said:
And my GB mini is 12 ounces. I can carry it and a knife for the same weight as some of the big knives people carry though I prefer my trail hawk which is a little heavier. I'll go against the grain on the fun aspect too. I find my hawk a lot more fun to chop with then a big knife/machete.
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I wouldn't say that is against the grain, just that you're more skilled with it than I am. I might prefer chopping better with an axe/hatchet if I liked them as much as the big knife, and was more skilled with them. As it is now, I like big knives more, and I have more fun using them. It is really whatever you like more/are better with that will allow you to have more fun.
 
Shotgun said:
And my GB mini is 12 ounces. I can carry it and a knife for the same weight as some of the big knives people carry though I prefer my trail hawk which is a little heavier. I'll go against the grain on the fun aspect too. I find my hawk a lot more fun to chop with then a big knife/machete.
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Really, it doesn't matter in the end. Whatever gets the juices flowing. Crush that wood, whatever way you can and you like. Hell, this whole controversy should be turned on Rick Marchand to ask the question - should you baton your knife to remove camp trailer bearings? What a bastid he is!!!
 
case in point... was hard pruning the cherry trees today. Limbs were 3-6 in. Did not want to pull out the chain saw due to the height and angles. I started with a folding saw I usually use for pruning, but it was too much work on the live limbs. I moved to an axe, which did the deed on one limb, but was too messy and not much less work. Pulled out the Trail master, cut myself a good 4 inch baton, and did quick work... 7-10 strokes and I was through the large limbs with little effort, and with good flat cuts for tarring. I cleaned up my axe cut with the knife and baton. I suppose practice with the tool and choosing the right tool for the job are what its about. Is there really a right and wrong on axe vs baton?
 
TheGame said:
I wouldn't say that is against the grain, just that you're more skilled with it than I am. I might prefer chopping better with an axe/hatchet if I liked them as much as the big knife, and was more skilled with them. As it is now, I like big knives more, and I have more fun using them. It is really whatever you like more/are better with that will allow you to have more fun.
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Nah I still consider myself a beginner. Liked hawks and hatchets from the beginning. We're lucky we live in a place where we have the choice in choppers really.
 
Shotgun said:
Nah I still consider myself a beginner. Liked hawks and hatchets from the beginning. We're lucky we live in a place where we have the choice in choppers really.
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Ahh. So, you'd be like me if I happened to like hatchets or axes more than a big knife at this time, then. I do like them, quite a bit, I just prefer the knives more. Nothing wrong with either way, if you ask me. Whatever you enjoy is what you should use. :thumbup:
 
Slider817 said:
Silky makes the best folding saws that I have ever used, this pretty small and light Silky Super Accel cut this small tree down in under 10 Seconds
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I ordered a Silky Super Accel yesterday after reading up on them and watching videos. It looks like an awesome, lightweight way to process wood.
 
I consider myself moderately skilled in terms of batoning. I CHOOSE to baton rat rather than use an ax in most cases for 2 reasons. My first reason is weight. In my opinion and experience, in order for an ax to be more effective than a big blade, it needs to be roughly twice the weight (I don't think I would compare the CS Trail Master to the CS Trail Hawk). The second reason is the skills required. In order to properly use an ax, you need to be able to swing it relatively hard and thus split the wood in one stroke. If the ax head wedges in the wood and I am forced to remove the it from the wood, all caloric advantages are lost. To be able to split the wood in one swing, I have to have the confidence and technique down that will bring that result. If I don't have the technique or the confidence in my technique, I will likely fail to chop with enough force and therefore will wedge the head of the ax in the wood and will cause more problems than an ax is worth. Just my 2 cents on the matter.
 
I always use a big blade and baton. Its fun and pretty efficient. I tried the whole folding saw thing and hated it. A saw, while light is not versatile in no fun to use. And not that it matters to most people but if you ended up having to defend yourself in the woods Id much rather have a big 10 inch blade or an axe than a saw...

I want to buy a good forest axe or hatchet but I don't think they are as safe as a knife and heavier to carry. Also a well designed large knife can be used for much more than just chopping and splitting.
 
KalEl said:
I always use a big blade and baton. Its fun and pretty efficient. I tried the whole folding saw thing and hated it. A saw, while light is not versatile in no fun to use. And not that it matters to most people but if you ended up having to defend yourself in the woods Id much rather have a big 10 inch blade or an axe than a saw...

I want to buy a good forest axe or hatchet but I don't think they are as safe as a knife and heavier to carry. Also a well designed large knife can be used for much more than just chopping and splitting.
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Your perception is narrowing to saw vs big knife. A saw never stands on it's own, everything supplements. It's saw + ______________ + ___________ etc
 
Why not baton the knife with the axe?

Seriously, whatever you prefer is probably best. I can imagine areas and times of year where the "best" answer would change. If I was going to an area I had not been before, and was planning on staying there a while, I think I would bring an assortment of tools and decide in the field which was best for the task.
 
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