Does anyone know of a good chopping knife.

[ridnovir]

Thanks! I figured it would come down to the handle, i thought it would be the other way around though as the gso 10 looks flat and rectangular in comparison (which might not be a bad thing in the case of a chopper).

Actually, I found that the flatter and rougher GSO10 scales have less of a chance to role in your palm vs Bravo 3. The nicely countered BR scales are fine and preferable on smaller knives like Gunny or Bravo1 but do not work at all on Bravo 3. BR has another knife comparable to Bravo3 with a mach better design IMO - the Bark River Dark Timber Grizzly

 

[Gaston444]

According to a video, the GSO 10 handle wants to move forward in your hand as you chop, to the point the video maker recommended using a lanyard cord to wrap around your hand, this to keep it back... Seems odd, but that was the claim.

Chopping better than a Trailmaster or even a BK-9 means little for a 1/4" stock 10" chopping knife. I would say 25% than the BK-9 or 50% better than the Trailmaster (because of the thin handle, not the blade) would be a minimum.

Gaston

 

[Benson X]

I would recommend any of the above; they're all great choppers

From Top:
Becker BK20
ESEE Junglas
SURVIVE! GSO-10
Becker BK9

 

[91bravo]

I would recommend a Becker bk20 or bk29 for an excellent chopper!

But if you want a king mack daddy chopper, then pick you up a 1311. 13" of nothing but pure chopping madness!

 

[John A. Larsen]

Check pout the Skrama, lots of links here on BF about it. You can get one from Finland and amazingly the shipping cost is often less than shipping across the USA. John

 

[StrangeDaze]

Actually, I found that the flatter and rougher GSO10 scales have less of a chance to role in your palm vs Bravo 3. The nicely countered BR scales are fine and preferable on smaller knives like Gunny or Bravo1 but do not work at all on Bravo 3. BR has another knife comparable to Bravo3 with a mach better design IMO - the Bark River Dark Timber Grizzly

I was just using my bk20 the other day and i noticed the same thing, it wants to roll in my hand! I love the becker handles but for such a big knife they need to be a little more flat. I will remedy this with some g10 scales from tkc as they are supposed to be less contoured. I ended up using my esee junglas for the rest of the project because it has the nice flatter grip. I havent noticed this as a problem for my bk9 but i think thats because it is shorter and lighter.

 

[GREENJACKET]

I would recommend any of the above; they're all great choppers

From Top:
Becker BK20
ESEE Junglas
SURVIVE! GSO-10
Becker BK9

I know why these are recommended. They are very good at what they are. But going against the grain I wouldn't have any of them. (Well I might as I like knives, but not for practical purposes).
This style and class make poor choppers compared to an axe. The scale and heft make them poor knives. They are a very modern American class of blade that has become popular, (read in fashion, because of the very silly "one tool option" quest), only in the last 20 years. Historically they never really existed being too bulky and not very practical.

Here is my preferred take on a big knife for the bush:

Its called a Skrama. Its a thinking man's golok, a golok being stiffer and shorter than a machette, but not heavy like a hatchet. Plenty of y tube vids on it and they can only be bought from one place.
It portable, has some reach, not heavy, and stiff enough to do most kinds of chopping. But it isn't an axe, nor a breeze block breaker. Its for saving your finer pocket blade and doing what axes are poor at. Its also the right weight for extended use. Tools that are a bit heavier are tiring in use especially if all weight forward, and difficult to control after a while. So to me this is the perfect compromise. The handle design makes it very controllable.
This, a Silky Saw F180, and pocket knife weigh less than a Junglas. A far more practical tool than the examples above, especially if you are packing out by foot any distance.

Thats my take, others may well disagree. Lastly, its under $100 with leather sheath and postage.

 

[A.L.]

You are not alone. Little hatchet can out-chop those knives. Pair the hatchet with small knife and you got more versatility than "one knife that does it all".