Batonning v. Axing

I'm going to do what I do best and step on toes.

For those that contend that batoning a knife through a piece of wood is safer than axe use are using the axe wrong (and the way they describe using the axe proves this).

Complaining about weight? A 19" bushcrafting axe weighs about the same as the big boomer knives, with a lighter sheath and are more efficient due to the weight being concentrated right behind the cutting edge. The smaller axes are generally lighter than the big boomer.

Tomahawks can't work wood? I suffered this delusion before until a certain Vector001 challenged me to try doing things his way with a long hafted trail hawk. Lo and behold, those little buggers work quite well, thank you very much. Again, I have to lay this at the feet of not really knowing how to use the tool.

Let's be honest. This is a hobby, no one on these boards HAS to do this to live. If you WANT to baton a knife to split wood, that's enough reason. If you WANT to use an axe or a tomahawk, that's also your prerogative. Neither answer is wrong as both accomplish the task.



Eventually you'll come to your senses and realize that a kukri is the superior tool, anyway. . .;)
 
Cpl Punishment said:
Tomahawks can't work wood? I suffered this delusion before until a certain Vector001 challenged me to try doing things his way with a long hafted trail hawk. Lo and behold, those little buggers work quite well, thank you very much. Again, I have to lay this at the feet of not really knowing how to use the tool.
Click to expand...

Care to share more about this? I've read other posts where you hint at different techniques with the hawk, but I can't figure out what they are. I would really appreciate if you can enlighten me.
 
First off, use a long haft. A true hawk doesn't have a lot of mass, so you need speed.

Next, I've tried an axe-like swing and a kukri-like snap cut with the hawk, and the snap cut works better -- gives it that extra bit of speed at the end.

A narrow-bit hawk will bite deep. Yes, you'll have to work it out on the first hit. Then I find hitting close to the first strike -- versus making a wide "V" notch like an axe -- gives another deep cut, and when I pull the hawk out, a narrow, but deep chip comes with it. Sharp, fast strike like this seem to work best. What Vec calls "pecking" with the hawk, versus trying to chop like an axe.

As for splitting, do it just like a hatchet.
 
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