Bk9 and Fiskars X7 chop-off/shoot-out!!!

mountainmist

mountainmist

Joined
Jun 12, 2013
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My Neighbor was kind enough to let me play around with his Fiskars X7 and I though I'd do a shoot-out with the X7 and my beloved BK9.

Both the hatchet and the knife were paper-cutting sharp.

Pictures!!

First I took fifty good strikes with each. (keep in mind, this is only the second time I've ever used a good hatchet and I don't have much experience)
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After 50 with my 9...
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The X7...
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The X7 was the clear champion. The wfod I used was very hard, seasoned, Oak.

I then cut some small, thin, saplings.
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As expected, the BK9 was the king at this. Botg did well, but the 9 was thinner and sliced better.

I thought about the slicing thing and Thought I'd try chopping live, soft, Poplar.
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The 9...
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The X7...

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WOW!!! I think the poplar was all about penetration were-as the oak was about chips. The 9 kicked butt!

On the splitting....
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Both split well, I did prefer the 9 but that was just because I felt I had more controk. To each his own.

Feather sticks.....

I abandoned the woods in favor of my dad's shop....
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The X7 was surprisingly well (I've never carved with a hatchet)
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The BK9 was at it's worst....
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I've never made such a poor feathet stick with the 9, I guess it's never been as dull as it is now.
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In conclusiom.....

Which one is better? The 9. I don't do much chopping of seasoned oak and the 9 usually does better it feathers. I do a LOT of poplar chopping and splitting, and a good deal of other small things.

The X7 was great! it exceeded my expectations for a hatchet and I will definitely use one more.

This review was highly subjective and also, just what I thought.

Please excuse mistakes, the keyboard is very "sticky".

Enjoy!
 
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Good review! Thanks for taking the time to share this with us.

How was the x7 for comfort? I've had a couple of experiences with hatchets that were uncomfortable to use for more than a few minutes.
 
rkmoore said:
Good review! Thanks for taking the time to share this with us.

How was the x7 for comfort? I've had a couple of experiences with hatchets that were uncomfortable to use for more than a few minutes.
Click to expand...

It was great! However, it is rather unpleasant when you miss, are cut through anything with very little resistance, it tends to really pull your forearm muscle. it may be technique though. *shrugs*
 
I bought an X7 a few years ago with no real expectations.
I've been blown away by it's performance. It's a champ!
It takes a keen edge and feels well balanced.

If I were two choose between the two I'd go with the 9'er. It's just a more versitile tool in the woods. And I still feel more comfortable wielding a large knife rather than a hatchet.

Thanks for sharing your comparison of the two MM.
 
I'd be interested to see if/how the results might change if you got more experience with the hatchet. I personally prefer the 9, naturally, but if it's not my favorite Becker (outside of Ethan, of course), it's pretty darned close. That being said, technique is king. If you've only used the hatchet twice, and the 9 a lot, the test isn't as fair as it could be, it seems to me. Did you have any issues with binding on either?
 
crimsonfalcon07 said:
I'd be interested to see if/how the results might change if you got more experience with the hatchet. I personally prefer the 9, naturally, but if it's not my favorite Becker (outside of Ethan, of course), it's pretty darned close. That being said, technique is king. If you've only used the hatchet twice, and the 9 a lot, the test isn't as fair as it could be, it seems to me. Did you have any issues with binding on either?
Click to expand...

When I chop poplar with the 9, it binds. When I chop rotten wood with the X7, it binds. I'm sure the results would change if I were more experienced.
 
watch some hatchet use safety videos. They should help with the missing thing. short axes can be quite dangerous without the right precautions.

Nice comparison. I suspect angling the 9 into the oak a bit more might have helped its efficiency. However a good axe/hatchet can really move wood!
 
Fiskars can make a good axe, but they can't do anything for the knife companies they own? What's up with that?
 
Thanks for the comparison!

I like hatchets for splitting firewood for our wood stove, as it only takes one blow to chop a piece in half. (Batoning takes quite a bit longer.)

However, for chopping wood across the grain, I prefer the knife. It just seems to offer more control.
 
I have both the fiskars and the 9 and do regularly carry both. With practise the fiskars will out chop the 9 and I find it is a great to for fire building..... But it just feels great to swing a 9 and kick the crap out of a few trees :D

For the added weight I think the fiskars is a great addition to any pack. I added some traction tape to the handle of mine for some added grip and it makes a big difference especially in snowy conditions.
 
I guess its just me but I hate the plastic fiskars axes.

Borrowed one a couple years ago to try camping and gave it back within a half hour.....and went back to my 20in wetterlings.

Forged steel and wood please!!!!!

Backpacking I would take a 9 and a bahco lapplander, the 9 is great for wood processing and so much more........

Sidenote: the small wetterlings splitting hatchet is a serious little hand maul, has been my go to kindling machine for a couple years now
 
Nice honest , up front review. I just started getting into axes and hatchets. A few years ago I had a real close call out in the woods alone with a hatchet and a glancing blow. Could have been real bad. Be careful and learn proper technique and they work great.
 
I really enjoyed your post and the pix..... The one tool in the Big North Woods that the old trappers and other woods dwellers never left home without was a Hudson Bay Axe......essentially an almost bearded hatchet with a 26 in. Handle........ They usually carried a belt knife as well....... Learning the axe is a real good goal to have....... The downside is that the danger factor is very high..... I have some unfortunate memories in that regard...... At the very least read Mors Kochanski's treatise on axes in Bushcraft....... Practice where your cell can call 911 for a while.......... Mind, I like hatchets and hawks but as a matter of taste after the big knife I tend to go with a longer handled axe.........

Thanks again.......

Ethan
 
Very interesting shoot out!

I have a 16" Fiskars and it is my dedicated chopper, and is not used for food prep, yea the opposite of my knives, they complements.
 
Some good advise I got was to kneel down on your knees when using a hatchet. I tend to use a big knife at home around our fire pit mainly because I don't wanna be swinging a axe or hatchet when kids and dogs are around. I find battoning is safer for these circumstances.
 
+1
I rarely use an axe or hatchet at home or when others are within 10 feet. And like Ethan said try to have a cell phone handy and someone to help you stop the bleeding.
 
The x7 is also good for removing the head and feet from a rabbit while processing.

I should try it with the 9 sometime.

Jeremy
 
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