Better camp tool...Hatchet or Chopper?

[FortyTwoBlades]

I would submit that most hatchets (with flat polls, at least) also make really effective hammers, which is something that most big knives can't really match.

Though it takes very little time to fashion a baton on-site.

But I agree whole-heartedly with what you're saying.

 

[The Government]

That looks like the Condor Viking Machete. How does the 420HC hold up? I have been interested in getting a stainless machete.

 

[mdauben]

I was wondering what you think is a better camp tool. A hatchet or a large fixed blade knife.

If I can only have one or the other, I guess I would go with a large knife. A large knife is better at chopping that an axe is at slicing.

In practice I would have an axe plus a medium fixed blade and/or a study folder. I'm not really a fan of BIG camp knives. I see no reason to handicap myself by trying to use a knife for a task it is poorly suited to. YMMV.

 

[GWashington1732]

If I can only have one or the other, I guess I would go with a large knife. A large knife is better at chopping that an axe is at slicing.

In practice I would have an axe plus a medium fixed blade and/or a study folder. I'm not really a fan of BIG camp knives. I see no reason to handicap myself by trying to use a knife for a task it is poorly suited to.

Exactly, if you have to choose one or the other, take the knife because the knife can do anything okay, but the hatchet or axe will chop much better than a knife if you can take both.

 

[pinkfloyd101]

It is mostly going to be used for batoning, felling limbs, and making a shelter is need be. I will also have a knife around 4" too. My main cutting tool will be a bow saw for larger wood. i just don't know what would be better for batoning, limbing, or shelters. Can a hatchet(NOT axe) baton good, or is the large blade going to be better. I know the hatchet will out chop a knife, but what about splitting wood? I live in northern Minnnesota by the way, so there are all sorts of trees.

 

[Dorito Monk]

Wait, can you baton with a hatchet? I always think of batoning kind of a buzz-word for placing a knife against a bit of wood and using it like a maul (wacking the spine of the knife and driving it through the bit of wood).

If that's the case, I guess you could use a hatchet the way you would use a maul (although that's definitely not healthy for the hatchet...), but why wouldn't you just use it to split/chop wood as normal? Sorry man, I'm a bit confused by your question

 

[Fartingbadass]

I must agree with Col. Cornelius and the Gov. Having grown up in the coastal rain-forests of the Pacific North-West, you are far better off with a small axe and a 4-5" knife. Just the thought of building a good shelter and a decent fire without a small axe or hatchet, is enough to make my right arm ache. For me, it still comes down to using the right tool for the right job. Now, if I was killing Zombies...

Spot on.

 

[YankeeSC]

I find that if I bring a machete along I'll use it more than anything else. I have an Ontario 12" beavertail that's good for trimming, chopping, splitting kindling, making feather sticks and tent stakes and digging cat holes in soft earth.

Did you purchase your machete recently? I've been looking for one to purchase. I owned 2 of them and loaned them to family members. :grumpy: thinking I would buy myself another one. If you know where I can buy one, please let me know. YankeeSC@aol.com Thanks!