Do large butcher knives make good woods choppers?

[not2sharp]

You own it, so sharpen it up and give it a try on some limbs and small trees. You can make your own mind up after you use it a bit.

But post a picture first. Some of thee things have grown pricey.

n2s

 

[David Martin]

No, they were designed with a different purpose in mind. DM

 

[Jester60]

But post a picture first. Some of thee things have grown pricey.

n2s

That was my thought as well. Would be sick to beat it up in the woods to find out later it was worth a couple bills.

Tks guys

 

[davek14]

I've actually used old (less stout) yard sale butcher knives for all yard work, including chopping and batoning. No, they are not stout enough for heavy work. They are surprisingly tough however.

I used one pretty hard for a couple years before I took a big chip out of it, and that was batoning 2" wood for kindling. Twisted it to get a chip out.

Ground the chip out and it is still going strong. I don't hesitate to chop branches off bushes and such but I don't baton with it anymore.

Sharpened to an obtuse angle obviously.

 

[coloradospyderco]

Ah yes, this again.
I've found that my big choppers, like the Junglas or the last huge blade I made, work better than any hatchet I have tried.
Once again though, that is my experience; yours may vary.
Perhaps the choppers you have tried suck, or maybe the hatchets you have used are way more awesome than what I have.

It's true that large choppers work well, but I don't think they can replace a hatchet. Knives don't have the weight or shape to work as well for most chopping tasks.

 

[Mannlicher]

I don't think much of meat blades being good woods blades. They are thin, light weight, have the wrong blade profile. You don't use a butcher knife to chop through bone anyway, that's what cleavers are for.

 

[stabman]

It's true that large choppers work well, but I don't think they can replace a hatchet. Knives don't have the weight or shape to work as well for most chopping tasks.

Something like this does:





Works like a big butcher knife too (that's frozen bacon):



It's not so great for slicing potatoes, but I have cut up onions and peppers with it. It's really a chopper at heart, though.

 

[sweet_hitch-hiker]

It'll work as a machete decently well but not chop as well as a thicker knife

 

[stabman]

I don't think much of meat blades being good woods blades. They are thin, light weight, have the wrong blade profile. You don't use a butcher knife to chop through bone anyway, that's what cleavers are for.

His is 3/16" thick and was actually sold as a lamb splitter.
Pretty sure it'll be just fine.

 

[Brisket]

I think the OP may be out looking for a lamb now. :encouragement:

 

[Jester60]

I'm actually on the road right now. I'll be home around the 26th and maybe get to play around some with them, and get some pics posted. It'll be an old, dead thread by then though. Lol

Tks

 

[coloradospyderco]

Something like this does:





Works like a big butcher knife too (that's frozen bacon):



It's not so great for slicing potatoes, but I have cut up onions and peppers with it. It's really a chopper at heart, though.

What knife is that? That's pretty cool! I guess that could come close to a hatchet. Still prefer a Gransfors Bruks though!