BK9 or Gransfors Bruks Small Forest Axe as primary chopper

bdws1975

bdws1975

Joined
May 19, 2006
Messages
3,721
hi all,

I just ordered a BK9 and am VERY excited to have it in my hand and make it all pretty. I currently have a BK7 and 16. I also have a GB small forest axe that I love.

Here's my question:

has anyone on here compared the utility of the BK9 vs a small axe/hatchet and what are your thoughts? I can see relative benefits of both but am curious what others have experienced. I'm thinking primarily for camping/hiking purposes.

For a lot of processing, I'd use my Laplander, but for everyday chopping I like to have a large edged implement.

Thanks all,

Brett
 
Knives that chop, have many more options than an axe that chops.

Granted, if I was felling trees and wanted to punish myself, I'd take an axe. I prefer chainsaws......

I've always looked at it like this, the BK9 gives you roughly 9" of cutting surface, compared to the 4-5" of the typical axe bit. Hatchets are around 3". It gives you more room for error in your accuracy, say, if you are tired and cold

Also, a knife and baton can do some real serious work, safer and more accurate than an axe or hatchet.

Plus, lets see you carve with an axe or cut up your dinner, or pick a splinter out. Sharpen a stick for pokin' stuff, or wear on your belt.....

Just my opinion.

Moose
 
"It's small, light and perfectly balanced. It can sharpen a pencil, slice a tomato paper thin, and shave the print right off this page. It will frizz sticks for tinder; cut fine kindling and split small logs. It will fillet a fish, skin a moose, tenderize a steak, turn your pancakes, spread jam and peanut butter; pound tent stakes and chop vegetables. And it will ride as lightly on your hip as the average hunting knife."
-Cliff Jacobson, Tactical Knives


But it can't outchop a BK-9. Trust me, I know this.

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I really do love the little rascal and carry it often. Can do a lot of stuff with it too, but it can't chop with the King.
 
As a primary chopper, I'd take the GB SFA. If you can only take a BK9 or only a SFA, I'd go with the BK9.
 
Hatchets are accidents waiting to happen.Not enough mass for splitting, with a short handle that puts your hands too close to the action for my taste. Personally I'd take the axe. More mass and better designed for chopping. If I'm processing wood for a fire then I'm using axe and a saw. The questions will always be, how much chopping do you do in an average hiking/camping trip and what tools will accomplish that most safely and effectively?

edit: It appears I misread the post as well. Something about "small" just makes me think hatchet :D
 
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thanks for the responses all. I've almost had an accident or two with my SFA...so the safety thing is of concern.

thanks.
 
I would rather have the 16 and the SFA. The GB axes are great tools provided you know how to use them correctly.
 
I like variety of opinion! Thanks skystorm. I love the sfa but have had to learn my limits. Would you mind elaborating why? Thanks.
 
If concerned about safety the bk9 is your better choice. I think the ax would be a better chopper though. Don't get me wrong i love the bk 9 (I have 2) but I found its chopping performance to be a bit subpar compared to my other large knives. Its a grest all around knife though
 
Go with the 9. I just picked up the wildlife hatchet and absolutely love it. The problem is the wood they sell down here (Atlanta suburbs) is full of knots and the hatchet just doesn’t cut it………….giggle……. I end up having to grab a larger knife to process the wood. I only have a 7 in that style but who wouldn’t like to have two more inches………..giggle………. Small axes are nice but if you learn to use a large blade it almost makes them obsolete. Just my $.01

Edit to add: When chopping with a small axe or knife; do it on your knees so that your overswing hits the ground and not your leg.
 
bdws1975 said:
I like variety of opinion! Thanks skystorm. I love the sfa but have had to learn my limits. Would you mind elaborating why? Thanks.
Click to expand...

Just personal preference really. For chopping wood I prefer an axe to batonning with a knife. Many people like to baton stuff with their knives I am just not one of them.
 
The SFA is made for the softwood forests of Sweden. In such places, it out-chops any knife, brand-loyalty notwithstanding. With its concave grind, it is not a splitting tool any more than the typical tomahawk. It is not good on small branches or brambles.

In my area, with few softwoods, a large knife is probably a better choice, and the BK 9 is a fine large knife.

Axes that developed in the U.S. have a convex grind so they stand up better to the rigors of chopping hardwood and are good splitters as well. GB makes such an axe, but it is not the SFA and is much larger/heavier.

So I do not get much use out of my two SFA's, both of which were gifts.
 
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a small forest axe rocketh for certain sized woods...

for smaller, the BK9

for larger, a larger axe

for even bigger... a chain saw :)
 
I actually prefer the GB Forest Hatchet over the BK9. A BK9 in my hands looks like a sword and makes people startle.
 
I don't have a little axe .But I do have a BK-9 that gets a lot of use.
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But I don't know why I need an axe.:D
Hawkeye
 
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Old crusty Jeep vs. BMW 7-series.

When I got my GB I could not believe how well that thing cut. And I've been handling axes for well over 50 years now.
 
I dont own either one of them but seeing a buddy's GB SFA makes me drool. The GB SFA is an axe with a blade that cuts paper like razor and yet chops. I guess the old influence from boy scout days are still alive in me. The axe is an essential boy scout tool in Lord Baden Powell's book.
 
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