Snagged the DOTD YCS a few days back. Had it in my hands on Monday. After making the rounds to show her off to some envious friends, I settled in to decide whether or not to use her. Took me 3 days. Should have never waited that long 
.
First off, this lady looks so sweetly innocent with her carved handles and mirror finish, that you wouldn't suspect the devil that lies beneath that polished gleam. I get rough with my knives, so I smacked her upside a pine tree hard as possible about 10 times on each side. As expected, nothing happened.
Thumbing the edge while I looked around the yard, I spied my victim. There's a corner of my lot with a tangle of everything from vines up to 3 inches thick to small 5-8 in thick hardwoods. That tangle no longer exists. I was honestly surprised as to how well she cut, seeing has how I haven't worked the edge at all. Sailed through those 3 inch vines trying to choke out my good trees. Actually, she sailed through those and buried herself about 2 inches into the good wood
. Smaller pencil sized vines were a bit of a pain since they would skit out the way if they were free-hanging, but chopping them at the ground was no problem. The hardwood trees weren't a problem either. I'd squat down next to them and hatchet chop through them in 10-20 hits. This blade really seems to slide into the wood. I didn't have to swing into the hits at all, just let the blade do it's work. I was afraid to put too much force into it until I get a chance to sharpen down to harder steel. Maybe I can convince this little miss to finally let me get one of those Harbor Freight sanders 
.
Comparison time: I have an 18 in M-43, a 12 in AK, and Heather inherited (stole) my 16 in AK. If you'll glance back at the DOTD for the 17th, you may notice that it say 18 in YCS. It's actually 21 inches
. The 40 ounces is accurate, though, as far as I can tell (standing on a scale with first one and then the other. 3 extra inches makes it seem lighter than the M-43, even though they weight the same. This one is also 3 in at the widest, where the M-43 is 2.25. Previously I had thought my M-43 was huge. Now she's positively svelte.
Getting down to the actual use comparison, there really isn't one. The YCS is the clear winner, even though the M-43 is nicely convexed down at the good steel. Easier to control with much better chopping power. I can't explain it, since I've read many many reviews on how the M-43 is such a powerhouse chopper.
Now I just have to figure out how to get all the rouge out of all those nifty little carvings. Not sure how that's going to work.
I only developed one hot-spot on my hand after more than an hours use, right where the handle ring is. That's to be expected, considering I've been using my M-43 for so long which is a completely smooth handle. Few more hours and I'll have a nice callus, so no worries there.
I coated my M-43 blade with mustard and let her sit for about 30 min today, and have this really nice looking patina now. I'm going to do a second batch tonight. Any thoughts on whether or not I should do this to the YCS as well? This blade is a user, from now on, probably my first go-to tool when I'm doing yard work and definitely my go-to camping/hiking chopper.
Also, I haven't played with the two karda's yet, but one is 8.5 in with a 4.5 in blade and the other is 9 in with a 5 in blade. The 9 in is going to be convexed and the 8.5 in is going to have a scandi grind.
I'll post pictures of any of the above if requested.
. First off, this lady looks so sweetly innocent with her carved handles and mirror finish, that you wouldn't suspect the devil that lies beneath that polished gleam. I get rough with my knives, so I smacked her upside a pine tree hard as possible about 10 times on each side. As expected, nothing happened.
Thumbing the edge while I looked around the yard, I spied my victim. There's a corner of my lot with a tangle of everything from vines up to 3 inches thick to small 5-8 in thick hardwoods. That tangle no longer exists. I was honestly surprised as to how well she cut, seeing has how I haven't worked the edge at all. Sailed through those 3 inch vines trying to choke out my good trees. Actually, she sailed through those and buried herself about 2 inches into the good wood
. Smaller pencil sized vines were a bit of a pain since they would skit out the way if they were free-hanging, but chopping them at the ground was no problem. The hardwood trees weren't a problem either. I'd squat down next to them and hatchet chop through them in 10-20 hits. This blade really seems to slide into the wood. I didn't have to swing into the hits at all, just let the blade do it's work. I was afraid to put too much force into it until I get a chance to sharpen down to harder steel. Maybe I can convince this little miss to finally let me get one of those Harbor Freight sanders .Comparison time: I have an 18 in M-43, a 12 in AK, and Heather inherited (stole) my 16 in AK. If you'll glance back at the DOTD for the 17th, you may notice that it say 18 in YCS. It's actually 21 inches
. The 40 ounces is accurate, though, as far as I can tell (standing on a scale with first one and then the other. 3 extra inches makes it seem lighter than the M-43, even though they weight the same. This one is also 3 in at the widest, where the M-43 is 2.25. Previously I had thought my M-43 was huge. Now she's positively svelte.Getting down to the actual use comparison, there really isn't one. The YCS is the clear winner, even though the M-43 is nicely convexed down at the good steel. Easier to control with much better chopping power. I can't explain it, since I've read many many reviews on how the M-43 is such a powerhouse chopper.
Now I just have to figure out how to get all the rouge out of all those nifty little carvings. Not sure how that's going to work.
I only developed one hot-spot on my hand after more than an hours use, right where the handle ring is. That's to be expected, considering I've been using my M-43 for so long which is a completely smooth handle. Few more hours and I'll have a nice callus, so no worries there.
I coated my M-43 blade with mustard and let her sit for about 30 min today, and have this really nice looking patina now. I'm going to do a second batch tonight. Any thoughts on whether or not I should do this to the YCS as well? This blade is a user, from now on, probably my first go-to tool when I'm doing yard work and definitely my go-to camping/hiking chopper.
Also, I haven't played with the two karda's yet, but one is 8.5 in with a 4.5 in blade and the other is 9 in with a 5 in blade. The 9 in is going to be convexed and the 8.5 in is going to have a scandi grind.
I'll post pictures of any of the above if requested.
