Get a Becker or a Hatchet?

D

DeltaCypher0

Joined
Jun 5, 2012
Messages
74
Howdy all you Beckerheads!
So as I've stated a few times and probably will state again, I'm a minimalist, but I like to get the job done. So this is a problem. I love my BK14 and stand by it. But I'm going to be some more serious camping this summer, and I think I should get a blade that will make chopping wood more efficient. I might even be making some simple shelters. So, I'm looking into a bigger Becker, maybe the infamous BK9 or BK7. I might even go as small as the BK2. I know the bigger the blade, theoretically, the better it is at chopping and heavier tasks. I don't want to go overkill though.

But, I was also thinking about getting a nice hatchet. I don't know much about axes or hatchets, but the fact that the head is a separate piece from the handle makes me feel uneasy about long life and durability. Also, I have never sharpened an axe bit and feel it will be an awkward task.

I'm leaning more towards a knife than a hatchet. Thought I'd ask the Beckerheads though. Let me know what you all think.

Stay sharp!
 
A BK9 will outchop a hatchet, every time, hands down. I've tried lots of little axe type tools in comparison to a BK9, and they don't win.

The 9 has a thinner edge, plenty of heft, and bites deeper, everytime. Couple that with a blade length comparison, you got 11" of cutting surface, compared to 3-4" of cutting area on a hatchet.

Moose
 
Moosez45 said:
A BK9 will outchop a hatchet, every time, hands down. I've tried lots of little axe type tools in comparison to a BK9, and they don't win.

The 9 has a thinner edge, plenty of heft, and bites deeper, everytime. Couple that with a blade length comparison, you got 11" of cutting surface, compared to 3-4" of cutting area on a hatchet.

Moose
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This. But if you want a niche hatchet id recommend an Estwing. They usually sell those at home improvement stores.
 
BK4 Machax...you get the best of both worlds. It's a knife, but is canted blade, put the weight and impact point forward, like a small hatchet or a tomahawk. But a real hatchet will out last any knife in the long run. It's primary purpose is to process wood. A hatchet will laugh at knots that will chip and potentially break a knife. It's already been said, but Eastwing makes a really good product at a reasonable cost. I have the leather stacked handle one piece (no chance of head getting loose).
 
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I don't go out in the woods with just one tool.

Lately I've been carrying:

- tomahawk
- BK-5
- BK-15
- BK-11

I feel that combination is good for a little bit of everything.
 
One thing I haven't seen mentioned is that a big knife is safer than a hatchet, especially if you're cold and tired.

I used to own a Estwing hatchet and they are quite nice, but give me a 4 or a 9, anytime.

Doc

ETA, a big knife can also be used as a draw knife, a hatchet, not so much.
 
Wolf_1989 said:
I don't go out in the woods with just one tool.

Lately I've been carrying:

- tomahawk
- BK-5
- BK-15
- BK-11

I feel that combination is good for a little bit of everything.
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Lol I carry a tomahawk, SAK, Izula II, BK-16, and either a small Tramontina or my Junglas.
 
The real benefit of a big knife like a BK9 is their performance to weight ratio.

As Moose said above, a BK9 will outchop a TRUE hatchet- a small axe with a 1& 3/4 Lbs head and a 13-15" handle. Such a Hatchet weighs about 2 lbs+ with any belt sheath.

A BK 9 in the factory sheath weighs about 23 ounces. Add some sharpening tools and a Small Leatherman Squirt/ Juice multi tool in the sheath pouch and a little Remora necker added , you now have a 2 lb belt sized workshop at your disposal. All that gear is the same weight as an Esee Junglass with its sheath only. As I said, it's very weight efficient.

The only thing that will improve it for wood processing is carrying a 1 Lb folding buck saw like a Sven etc. Then you have 3 lbs of Wood processing gear that over all beats any 3lbs Forest axe all to heck..

I also agree with Doc-Canada about the safety issue. A large knife /Saw combo is safer to use than any axe and more versatile as well.
 
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i think everyone should know how to use a full-size axe safely but to answer your question, for me a folding saw (i like the bahco laplander a lot) is much better than a hatchet (faster, safer, and a lot quieter)...paired up with any becker you can almost do anything with that combo.
 
Or? What's this "or" business?

20120225ac0011.jpg


For what it's worth, my CS Trailhawk outchops my BK9 *but* my BK9 does a better job for me in just about every other task I'd want a nice outdoor tool to do. If I'm taking only the one, it'll be the BK9 pretty much every time.

---

Beckerhead #42
 
Moosez45 said:
The 9 has a thinner edge, plenty of heft, and bites deeper, everytime. Couple that with a blade length comparison, you got 11" of cutting surface, compared to 3-4" of cutting area on a hatchet.
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Have you compared the 9 to a hatchet with the same blade thickness? You say it bites deeper, does this mean it wedges like a machete? I see a lot of people talking about how deep a machete bites and then you see them struggle to get the thing out of the wood. Using considerably more energy to do so.

As for safety, I disagree that a 9 or any large blade is safer. In order for it to "outchop" a hatchet you generally have to swing the thing a lot harder and a lot faster to make up for there neutral balance. IMO that's MORE dangerous. The idea behind the hatchet is to use accurate chops and to get a rythm going using about half the speed and force then you would a big blade. The result is using more chops but with less energy. The reason it uses less energy is because you're more accurate, because the blade profile is such that the wood releases it with ease when you pull it out of wood and because you're using the weight of the tool to do the work and not your arm. All you do with a hatchet is get it up to speed and aim. With a knife you have to muscle it through the wood. I whole heartedly believe that if you need to chop, get a hatchet. And you don't need a 2 pounder like someone posted. A GB mini at 13 ounces will do any outdoor task you reallistically need to do.

Now if you don't need to chop all that much then go with a knife. It IS safer when splitting wood but that's not chopping, that's batoning.
 
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Shotgun said:
Have you compared the 9 to a hatchet with the same blade thickness? You say it bites deeper, does this mean it wedges like a machete? I see a lot of people talking about how deep a machete bites and then you see them struggle to get the thing out of the wood. Using considerably more energy to do so.

As for safety, I disagree that a 9 or any large blade is safer. In order for it to "outchop" a hatchet you generally have to swing the thing a lot harder and a lot faster to make up for there neutral balance. IMO that's MORE dangerous. The idea behind the hatchet is to use accurate chops and to get a rythm going using about half the speed and force then you would a big blade. The result is using more chops but with less energy. The reason it uses less energy is because you're more accurate, because the blade profile is such that the wood releases it with ease when you pull it out of wood and because you're using the weight of the tool to do the work and not your arm. All you do with a hatchet is get it up to speed and aim. With a knife you have to muscle it through the wood. I whole heartedly believe that if you need to chop, get a hatchet. And you don't need a 2 pounder like someone posted. A GB mini at 13 ounces will do any outdoor task you reallistically need to do.
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You've got a lot to learn about Axe safety, sir.

And the BK-9.
 
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Shotgun said:
Feel free to say I'm wrong but back it up with something. I eagerly await to learn what I'm missing in "Axe safety." :confused:
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Anyone who has ever used an axe with a handle shorter than about 26" knows that unless you hit the material perfect every time there is a good chance that axe or hatch head will be buried in your foot or leg while standing. Just as the short arch of a handgun makes it more dangerous in terms of muzzle control, so does the short arc of a short handled axe/ hatchet make it more dangerous to the user. Even more so due to the inertia of the heavy head which makes it almost impossible to stop your follow through.

Which is why most folks who care about safely kneel down when processing wood with short handled axes so the ground ALWAYS catches the head before it can get to your legs. But then again you're perfect, right? You NEVER miss the material you are chopping?

Pretty basic axe safety principles. Especially in true wilderness situations where there is not emergency room nearby.
 
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