Big knife vs. hatchet

Collector, the Small Forest Axe is great. That is the axe that gets alot of work. Since I bought the SmFA the full sized Plumb stays at home.

And just to show you(s) that I'm not anti-big knife...
evo_snow.jpg


Arrived last week, cut nothin but newspaper...so far ;)
 
I have a few hatchets, but I prefer khukuris. They chop as well if not better, and aren't awkward for slicing and other tasks. If I'm traveling light, I'll take my Busse Mr. Mojo, which is a 8.5" recurve blade, flat ground. Good chopper/slicer. Or the HI Ang Khola Bowie, which is about the same with a lot more weight behind it for serious chopping. The HI Uncle Bill Especial (UBE) is a lot bigger, has the big curve for chopping, but is upswept at the tip for slicing, and point work. It's really the best compromise between knife and hatchet that I've found.
khuk39.jpg
 
Umm.... Ebbtide, that looks an awful lot like the Mamba I own, except for that little lanyard tang, and the fact that you got it "last week". Could you tell me where you got it, if it's in production?

Thanks much,
Fox

Edit: After a few minutes googling around, I found the BRKT Evo 1. *sigh*
 
AGRussell.com
Still has some as of last week ;)

I missed the Mamba back then and always regretted it.
Mike Stewart of Bark River made the Mamba for Black Jack and makes the EVO too.
:D
 
Finally had to weigh in with some thoughts.

After reading this, I realized that we do not all have the same definition of "big knife". If you consider a 9" blade big, then yeah, a hatchet will probably outchop your idea of a "big knife". Here's my big knife.

attachment.php


If you need to chop a lot of bigger wood, then a hatchet will serve you better. If you're clearing very light succulent vegetation, like nettles or something, then a long stick is a better solution than any machete. If you're clearing light but tough vegetation, like brambles & tufts of fescue, then a light & quick machete will serve better. If, like me, you find yourself clearing tough undergrowth and smaller trees, (up to about 4" dia trunk) then my Bowie is the best compromise I've arrived at. It's faster than a hatchet, carries through better than a machete, & does everything a 9" blade can do. Comfortable carry is more a function of the carrying system (sheath/scabbard) than the object itself.

In regards to use as a weapon: Someone mentioned the hatchet having a mightier blow than the big knife. Again, if you're talking about an 8" blade, then yeah. But I'd choose my big Bowie over either one.
 
One big advantage of a hatchet is that it makes a much better hammer than a large knife. When I'm setting up a camp it is nice to have a hatchet for hammering in tent stakes. If I really want to split something I can baton the back of my hatchet as if I had a splitting wedge.

If I was on a tropical island and setting up a hut using bamboo and palm fronds I would rather have a light machete. For cutting fibrous brush I'd rather have a light machete. For light limbing a bolo or kukri are nice. For general camp work in the piney forest a hatchet works well and is much more politically acceptable.
 
Possum, it's great to finally get a gander at your huge Bowie. How big is it anyway?
I want a forged integral like that, something indestructible :)
 
Thanks for the compliments. It's 24" overall, and 28 ounces (1 3/4 pounds). The tapers & grinds still make its dynamic balance very quick & manueverable for a blade of this size, while at the same time it's still capable of delivering a powerful blow with the tip. (those two factors can be mutually exclusive if ya don't do it right.) I went into more details here if you're interested.

I'm still on a quest for an indestructable knife myself. Just keep in mind, that even if ya make the spine an inch thick, with an integral guard, the edge will always be the weakest link in the chain, since there's a definite limit on how thick you can make it. You may not be able to break it in half, but it will still be useless if you break 2" long semicircles out of the edge. (as I've done on other knives)
 
True, true. Thanks for the info. That's a very impressive blade. I'm currently waiting for Ron Leueschen (Little Hen Knives) to get back to me- he moved recently- about a large integral. I have his Cadet, I've seen his larger Bowies and the Survivor integral, and think he'll be perfect for the job. I will definitely post pics and details if I get one made.
I have a Tai Goo bush Bowie coming to me soon, it is 19" OAL and one solid forged piece. He makes great blades. It'll be a great chopper.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top