Carothers Chopper vs Axe

[1AbominAble1]

I prefer a chopper to a small axe or hatchet when hiking and camping. The chopper is better at more things than the axe - more versatile.

I love the idea of a hatchet/tomahawk but have found that a big knife does better for me, great thing is that I have both and take whichever one suits my mood at the time.

I don’t need to process cords of wood, if I did, I’d use an axe and a chainsaw.

For the fun work I take a CPK, to me, there’s no substitute.

That’s my short version of the 2 posts above mine that both reflect my opinion of the subject

 

[never.truly.lost]

Different tool for different tasks. For straight up chopping stuff an axe cannot be replaced by a camp knife.
However, the long knife has a big advantage for mixed task work like brushing out trails and processing kindling type materials along with other misc field chores.

I choose to carry a MC for my field work when I am not doing a chopping specific task for the day (timber cruising*) as it carries nicely on a shoulder rig and is easy to draw and sheath one handed for clearing branches = it is always “right there”.

Now if you are comparing a hatchet to the long knife they are much more comparable. I generally rotate or switch up between the MC, a Wenger Beohawk, and my McCoun tomahawk for those lighter items but overall the MC gets carries for day use and a hatchet or axe when setting up a camp for the night where you don’t want to waste energy chopping

 

[Random Dan]

Thanks for the responses all. Good info.

 

[AWSheppard]

Which one I carry depends on how big a fire I’m going to make; small fire=HDMC, large fire=21” axe. I personally don’t see a need for a shorter axe in the woods; the chopper fills that niche for me.

And yes, the smaller axe/small knife combo is “classic,” (Kephart) but he kept a splitting/felling axe in camp during the winter and took the smaller axe with for short excursions out of camp/his only axe in summer. For the same reasons I listed above (size of fire=quantity of wood needed). There are some people (bushcraft) who may not even carry a chopper in the summer, but rather a 5”+ fixed blade and baton if they need to process wood.

 

[TRfromMT]

Wasn't @Gravelface Going to do a large chopper comparison with a few loaner CPK and some others (Busse, for example)? Would like to know how that went and if there are any results that may help here.

 

[Lorien]

 

[Xr6x]

I’ve never been a hatchet fan and prefer to use a large knife over and above any hatchet.
But I would be willing to give the one above a chance That is one impressive looking MoFo

 

[AWSheppard]

I didn’t know you also designed a hatchet.

 

[h7per]

So nobody saying how awesome and fun are big Tuatahi Axes? Pure power of 6.2lb and 30" handle?

So again as we share personal preferences and looks. I got my point ov view about sharp tools and wood life.

What I take in forest when staying for some time?

1. FK2 (so 5" fixed blade)
2. Small hatchet/chopper (Gransfors Wildlife axe or CPK medium chopper)
3. Machete/short sword (K18 will be the best) for tracking and cutting fun it's awesome.
4. Big axe (Gransfors forest axe or for max power and fun Tuatahi Work axe)

This is maximalist set for me.
You can see that CPK MC can replace Hatchet but big axe can't be replaced for me because of its slashing power.
Machete? Short swords of 16-18" are amazing and lots of fun.

Minimalist set of my choice?
1.FK2 (yes 5" fixed blade is essential)
2.hatchet or cpk medium chopper.

But meh, I'm maximalist type of guy so I would always carry short sword with me in forest trip and if needed Tuatahi work axe and even CPK EDC2 on my belt...

Back on topic:

Carothers vs axe?
We need to make clear one thing:

Carothers vs hatchet?
YES, carothers medium chopper can replace hatchet.

Carothers vs Big axe (like Tuatahi Work Axe)?
No, sorry but even CPK K-18 sword can't replace Tuatahi work axe for me (considering it is priced $300+shipping (at the moment which is $100 because of covid madness))

Good luck.

 

[Big DJ]

So nobody saying how awesome and fun are big Tuatahi Axes? Pure power of 6.2lb and 30" handle?

So again as we share personal preferences and looks. I got my point ov view about sharp tools and wood life.

What I take in forest when staying for some time?

1. FK2 (so 5" fixed blade)
2. Small hatchet/chopper (Gransfors Wildlife axe or CPK medium chopper)
3. Machete/short sword (K18 will be the best) for tracking and cutting fun it's awesome.
4. Big axe (Gransfors forest axe or for max power and fun Tuatahi Work axe)

This is maximalist set for me.
You can see that CPK MC can replace Hatchet but big axe can't be replaced for me because of its slashing power.
Machete? Short swords of 16-18" are amazing and lots of fun.

Minimalist set of my choice?
1.FK2 (yes 5" fixed blade is essential)
2.hatchet or cpk medium chopper.

But meh, I'm maximalist type of guy so I would always carry short sword with me in forest trip and if needed Tuatahi work axe and even CPK EDC2 on my belt...

Back on topic:

Carothers vs axe?
We need to make clear one thing:

Carothers vs hatchet?
YES, carothers medium chopper can replace hatchet.

Carothers vs Big axe (like Tuatahi Work Axe)?
No, sorry but even CPK K-18 sword can't replace Tuatahi work axe for me (considering it is priced $300+shipping (at the moment which is $100 because of covid madness))

Good luck.

Holy cow that axe is a beauty!

 

[tinfoil hat timmy]

Those are almost $500 in their site now. Those must be the new gym equip.ent or above ground swimming pool.

 

[Fonedork]

So nobody saying how awesome and fun are big Tuatahi Axes? Pure power of 6.2lb and 30" handle?

So again as we share personal preferences and looks. I got my point ov view about sharp tools and wood life.

What I take in forest when staying for some time?

1. FK2 (so 5" fixed blade)
2. Small hatchet/chopper (Gransfors Wildlife axe or CPK medium chopper)
3. Machete/short sword (K18 will be the best) for tracking and cutting fun it's awesome.
4. Big axe (Gransfors forest axe or for max power and fun Tuatahi Work axe)

This is maximalist set for me.
You can see that CPK MC can replace Hatchet but big axe can't be replaced for me because of its slashing power.
Machete? Short swords of 16-18" are amazing and lots of fun.

Minimalist set of my choice?
1.FK2 (yes 5" fixed blade is essential)
2.hatchet or cpk medium chopper.

But meh, I'm maximalist type of guy so I would always carry short sword with me in forest trip and if needed Tuatahi work axe and even CPK EDC2 on my belt...

Back on topic:

Carothers vs axe?
We need to make clear one thing:

Carothers vs hatchet?
YES, carothers medium chopper can replace hatchet.

Carothers vs Big axe (like Tuatahi Work Axe)?
No, sorry but even CPK K-18 sword can't replace Tuatahi work axe for me (considering it is priced $300+shipping (at the moment which is $100 because of covid madness))

Good luck.

Actually, some dude was posting about those axes before he got banned, shortly before your account was created. Hi Miracle.

 

[Lorien]

Actually, some dude was posting about those axes before he got banned, shortly before your account was created. Hi Miracle.

thought I recognized that writing style. Reminds me, I got the heads up from the CPK folk awhile ago, that these two accounts are one and the same. We gots our eye on youz!

 

[trevitrace]

Those are almost $500 in their site now. Those must be the new gym equip.ent or above ground swimming pool.

I believe it's in NZ dollars.

 

[tinfoil hat timmy]

Color me embarrassed.

 

[Casinostocks]

If that is indeed Miracle why has he all of sudden become as old as I am? There is no other 56 YO in the World who can be as cool as I am! Ever!

 

[Big DJ]

Holy cow Matt you're a spring chicken!