chopping wood and limbing knife

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scrappy

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Jul 7, 2007
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I currently use a rd9 for chopping wood for the campfire and limbing fallen trees. That and my battle rat are the perfect middle ground. I live in a woody area and want something I can occasionally use when I want to really chop wood. I have a lot of knives and have some experience from using them but I am also hoping to tap your experience. I tried searching this forum and found threads about nine inch knives or machetes but nothing about all of them as choppers or anything comparing them.
So here is what I want. It needs to out chop my rd9. It can be a machete or a knife. 2 pounds is the max weight and I am open to lighter than that of coarse. I am not too concerned about ergos as long as it isn't horrible. What do you think the best chopper is?
Thank you.
 
As far as the rd9, are you talking about one of these?

RD9%20OG%20SM.JPG


It basically looks like a modernized version of the Hudson Bay Camp Knife.
 
R.C.
Mine is an older spear point model. I love it.
I don't have the OKC version yet.
 
Have you thought about the CS Trailmaster - either the San Mai III or SK5?

They're reasonably priced - though the San Mai version is a good bit more than the SK5 (add $110 or so to the $150 for the SK5).
 
Have you looked at khukuris? The HI sub forum has lots of information. I find my khuks out chop my conventional knives by a large margin. If you find an 18"oal khuk coming in at 28 to 30 oz. You will have found a chopping monster.
 
Why does it need to be a knife and not an axe or a saw? Just out of curiosity. However, I'd go with an HI Khukuri as well if you're set on a knife over an axe.
 
I'm a big kukri fan .Remember that the weight and distribution of the weight is very important.My larger kukri, like the military version, weighs 24 oz and is capable of cutting substantial limbs .The weight is forward, a very effecient cutter. My 18 oz kukri is for smaller things and close to that is my custom 16 oz 8" knife. Less weight than that doesn't chop very well for things like limbs.
 
different strokes for different folks, but I like to take a small sierra saw, a 13 inch Wetterlings ax, and a smaller knife.
 
Get an HI khukuri,they seem to be able to outdo a small hatchet when it comes to cutting limbs. Your weight requirement may result in substantial performance loss though.
 
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My GB small Forest Axe weighs 2lb 3oz with sheath. I'd certainly take that over any knife, machete, golok, etc. anyone is likely to list for "really" chopping and limbing. I'm sure Wetterlings will have a similar model for less $$.

I do really like the looks of that TOPS Power Eagle 12 pitdog posted a link to. Been looking at that one for a couple of weeks now, trying to fantasize up a use for it, but I'm after something more along the lines of a BRK Golok that's lighter.
 
Busse bushwacker mistress is a great lightweight full convex INFIdel chopper :) The meatier alternative is an fbm. Both incredible blades and I can guarantee you that the INFI will outperform any other steels when it comes to chopping. You can have some really REALLY nice custom 1095 big choppers made for around $180-$350.
Good luck,
Gabriel.
 
Thanks guys.
The trailmaster looks like a great all around knife. I am looking for something bigger.
I know an axe would work and I own a gb wildlife hatchet. I am knife guy and like them more.
I am suprised there are not more machete suggestions.
The HI products look good and so does the eagle
 
scrappy said:
Thanks guys.
The trailmaster looks like a great all around knife. I am looking for something bigger.
I know an axe would work and I own a gb wildlife hatchet. I am knife guy and like them more.
I am suprised there are not more machete suggestions.
The HI products look good and so does the eagle
Click to expand...

More information would probably help. What size limbs, what size trunks are you planning to chop?

I've never used an RD9, but it looks like a hefty sized knife. How exactly do you feel it's lacking? If you're not going to go with an axe I'd definitely look into a Khukuri over a machete. I don't question whether or not a machete could do the job, I'm just not sure it would be a significant improvement over what that knife can do. That's just my opinion though, actual results may vary.
 
Condor Bolo or Kukri, I own both-very ergonomic, great sweet spots that are natural for chopping, and both are good and cheap. The Bolo is the highest performance blade I own, I'd say, as far as rough use goes. I paid 20 dollars for it.
 
Duzzy
The rd9 is perfect and I limb with it already. On aspen I chop 6 to 8 inch diameter wood easily. I am looking for something I can use on hard wood or just to accomplish the chopping faster. I don't want an axe though. Does that help? Khuks machete and knives would be ideal. I have some experience with all of them but not enough and so I want to know what others think are the best choppers available.
Thank you all for the info.
 
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