Recommendation? Best chopper for the weight

B

Bushloafer

Joined
Sep 4, 2019
Messages
9
Hey all,

I am a guide, so I spend a fair bit of time in the woods, sometimes in fairly remote areas. I like to run my trips with something of a bushcraft bent, but keeping weight low is a high priority. In the warmer months I tend to carry a small-medium knife for most tasks as well as a larger chopper. At present, that is an ESEE Junglas. Great knife, but HEAVY with a listed weight of 23 ounces without sheath! I'm looking for something of similar or better quality, but lower weight. I expect I will need to sacrifice length and/or blade thickness. I have been looking at the Bark River Canadian Camp ii, but I don't have a lot of experience with choppers of quality other than the Junglas. Any suggestions?
 
Wow, great, that's a good list! I'll start looking into them, thanks. Are they all currently available as production offerings?
 
kwackster said:
Would you consider a good quality machete ?
Click to expand...
I'm not sure to be honest. Being from a northern clime, I have little experience with machetes. My primary purposes for a chopper are batoning/splitting, limbing, light felling and shelter building. If a machete could pull those things off at a lighter weight, no reason not to use it.
 
Perhaps a Griffin X made by Brian Fletcher. I believe he uses 01 steel mostly for those. He has a forum in the custom section.

On the machete option. I find the 18" Condor El Salvador the best overall machete option. I wouldn't expect to cut 6" hardwood trees down with it. I have a number of their heavy choppers parang type that work well, but I think the weight is about the same as the ESEE. The Condors are what I generally use with my favorite being the Pack Golok; there are a lot of options however.

Everyone here seems to be pushing Carothers (CPK) stuff. I know they are good, but I don't know the cost or their weight. I would expect they would be a big step up from the ESEE.
 
Last edited:
22-rimfire said:
Perhaps a Griffin X made by Brian Fletcher. I believe he uses 01 steel mostly for those. He has a forum in the custom section.

On the machete option. I find the 18" Condor El Salvador the best overall machete option. I wouldn't expect to cut 6" hardwood trees down with it. I have a number of their heavy choppers parang type that work well, but I think the weight is about the same as the ESEE. The Condors are what I generally use with my favorite being the Pack Golok; there are a lot of options however.

Everyone here seems to be pushing Crouthers (CRK) stuff. I know they are good, but I don't know the cost or their weight. I would expect they would be a big step up from the ESEE.
Click to expand...
Fantastic. I have had a couple of Condors and liked them for brush clearing around the house, but never tried them as a chopper. I'll look into their specs and weight. I had no idea CRK made choppers, definitely worth a look. Thanks so much
 
Bushloafer said:
Fantastic. I have had a couple of Condors and liked them for brush clearing around the house, but never tried them as a chopper. I'll look into their specs and weight. I had no idea CRK made choppers, definitely worth a look. Thanks so much
Click to expand...

CPK, Carothers Performance Knives. Not CRK, Chris Reeve Knives. CPK make some of the best choppers out there right now, in arguably some of the best steel there is.
 
Alberta Ed said:
Consider a 3/4 single bit Hudson Bay ax (Snow & Nealley) -- may be a bit heavier than a chopper but a lot better tool for your uses.
Click to expand...
I definitely agree in terms of it being a better tool, I actually do carry many different sizes of axe, but usually only in winter, as my wood processing needs are lesser in summer, and my needs for light weight are more. Great idea though!
 
91bravo said:
CPK, Carothers Performance Knives. Not CRK, Chris Reeve Knives. CPK make some of the best choppers out there right now, in arguably some of the best steel there is.
Click to expand...
Oh! My apologies, I misread. Thanks, I've never heard of them.
 
lFRj7jO.jpg
 
91bravo said:
CPK, Carothers Performance Knives. Not CRK, Chris Reeve Knives. CPK make some of the best choppers out there right now, in arguably some of the best steel there is.
Click to expand...
I know you love them and use them (CPK, I edited my reference above). You're a far more apt expert on choppers than I am. I only do limited things with choppers, but I love them. I just use them so seldomly that I try to keep the cost down.

On the Condor machete topic again... my favorite for carrying in the woods is the 16" Swampmaster machete which is a little stiffer than the 18" El Salvador. I feel sure you could baton it without any issues.
 
Looking at the CPK 10" light chopper, it might be darn well perfect. I would save enough weight that I would still carry less with the pair of that guy and my shorter knife than if I just carried my Junglas alone, and from a brief look, great steel, nice specs, and the shape looks like it would fit my hands well.
 
A Khukuri would be a great match. Himalayan Imports has semi regular sales for ones that come with a few minor issues. I’d certainly check on them time to time if I were you, lots of great choppers.


Kg0QMbb.jpg
 
Bushloafer said:
Looking at the CPK 10" light chopper, it might be darn well perfect. I would save enough weight that I would still carry less with the pair of that guy and my shorter knife than if I just carried my Junglas alone, and from a brief look, great steel, nice specs, and the shape looks like it would fit my hands well.
Click to expand...

Get you a CPK chopper, one and done! Ergos are out of this world and the steel rivals INFI in toughness, but I believe holds a better edge.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top