hatchet vs. big chopper?

SpookyPistolero · Jan 23, 2008

Morablades said:
Don't ask me why, but I got rid of my SAKs and started using my trappers again.

If you find more to get rid of, give me a call

I do, though, have similar tastes as to an ideal blade setup. I'm still playing around with my bowie though, because it too has some good merits.

danielp · Jan 23, 2008

I think it's depend on your environment. For me, in the tropical area, chopper is much better choice, and can handle more variety of task than an axe. A lot of people here, who actually live and work in the jungle use only some kind of golok for almost everything, even for some delicate task.

orrey45 · Jan 24, 2008

If I had one it would be a double bit hatchet. One side for chopping and one for cutting like an ulu.

Now if I could only find a quality one for a fair price.

Salamander42 · Jan 24, 2008

imaginefj said:
Chopper! A hatchet is limited besides chopping. Go try and clean a fish or clean a rabbit with a hatchet...It can be done but not easily. Most survival would not require a hatchet or axe, it is not like you are going to build a cabin. A chopper is more than capable of building a lean to(sp?).

It seems to me that a large chopper could be even more unwieldy than the hatchet. . . With the hatchet you can choke up on the handle and gain a lot of control, but with the large chopper if you need to use the tip then you're limited to either holding the handle which is 5 inches or more away, or trying to hold onto the blade. I admit that I have no experience cleaning small game, let alone doing so with a hatchet or large knife, so forgive me if I'm totally off the mark here.

hlee said:
I only have one hatchet, and it is too dull to work with, and I do not have sufficient drive or equipment to get it sharp enough to care about (it would take a grinder).

You might be surprised what you could do with a file. A hatchet will generally not be anywhere close to the hardness of a knife. It needs to be softer to absorb lots of heavy impacts without chipping or outright breaking.

3wolves said:
I cant do searches unfortunately.

Go to Google and enter your search word(s) or phrase followed by "site:bladeforums.com" This effectively lets you search bladeforums with Google. There is a ton of information in the archives so most of the results you get won't be active threads, but it's a great trick if you're just looking for some info. (Someone should make this trick a sticky or put it in the FAQ if it's not already there)

danielp said:
I think it's depend on your environment. For me, in the tropical area, chopper is much better choice, and can handle more variety of task than an axe. A lot of people here, who actually live and work in the jungle use only some kind of golok for almost everything, even for some delicate task.

Yep, environment has a ton to do with one's choice of tools.

Okay, as for my own choice. . . I live in central Indiana, and do most of my camping and hiking in southern Indiana. I used to carry a khukri and several smaller knives, but once I realized that I was basically only chopping and splitting wood with the khuk, I started carrying a hatchet instead which is more suited to those tasks. I usually carry this combo in the woods:

I've recently added a Spyderco Mule Team knife and a Temperance to my collection though, so the Mora may be getting sidelined. I also often carry a multi-tool and a Delica, but those three are my primary tools.

If I were told that I was going to be dumped in the wilderness in say, the Hoosier National Forest, and I could only have one blade to take with me I think I'd go back to a khukri for the versatility, but I would also strongly consider the Fiskars hatchet and just might choose it instead. As has already been stated, hatchets are much more versatile than most people give them credit for.

Cutshaw · Jan 24, 2008

Indy, huh? We should get together for some sharp-edge show and tell sometime.

sketchbag · Jan 24, 2008

Hatchet.

After experiencing the gransfors bruks 25" axe, I went and got the 19" "small forestry axe", but it's as much a large hatchet as it is a small axe, so I'm willing to consider it a hatchet for the sake of argument.

With a proper grind (as the gransfors have) hatchets/axes can be razor sharp, with just a bit of stropping I can remove arm hair, so it definitely doesnt lack slicing ability. It does fine tasks quite well, but seeing as were talking about choppers I'll get to the point: More forward weight, and the ability to use 2 hands = more power, faster and more efficient chopping, better control (when using both hands) which all leads to less fatigue.

The handle on the hatchet also has much better shock absorption than any full tang knife, which is another plus.

I still like my 7" knives though.

udtjim · Jan 24, 2008

For chopping I will take the Hatchet every darn time. I always have my SAK anyway.

CSG · Jan 24, 2008

Neither. I like my Gerber saw and F1. I recently bought two Wetterlings' hatchets; the smallest and next largest. I touched them up to razor sharp and think the smallest one could be used for a variety of tasks including skinning game. I just didn't feel very comfortable using them for chopping. Then again, I rarely have that as a task when hiking and camping.

Big chopper blades are not as efficient as hatchets IMO and take up a lot of real estate on your person. I think they are less versatile than a hatchet and smaller knife.

Frankly, after experimenting with a Gerber's pruning saw, I realized that it's a better tool for me than either a hatchet or chopper. I'm not sure what I couldn't do with it and an F1 that I could do with the other two tools. Saves weight and better ergonomics for me.

Diamond Dog · Jan 24, 2008

I have not used a hatchet when camping, but have used them for other landscape related tasks and I really found them a little unwieldly for my tastes. I have used an ontario 12" machete and found that to be a useful cutting tool for low cost. I agree that location would be the determining factor for each tool use. Here are my thoughts and examples for my preference:

machete-I think it can be safer in spliting firewood for kindling more blade and less likely to miss and whack yourself, still have to use something to baton it with though to split.

hatchet-more weight forward force to bite into the wood, but still need to pound the log or use some force to get it thoroughly through the wood.

machete-can be used to sift through a campfire, rearrange burning logs, sticks etc. Can use it to reach into the fire to grab something say a pot handle etc.

hatchet-would be harder to use for said usage as the machete.

machete-can be used as a general knife when choked up on.

hatchet-can also be used for a cutting tool when choked up on.

ease of carry would be a toss up for both I guess.

I find that for me the machete is more user friendly and can double up more easily at other tasks then the hatchet. But a hatchet can still be just as useful in the right hands.

I recently purchased an Estwing Sportsman's Ax and found that I would prefer this over the machete when coupled with another cutting tool. The sportsman's style of ax is a bit bigger than the hatchet yet smaller, lighter than a full ax, which I find to be the perfect comprimise to a hatchet or machete, again paired up with another cutting tool for a combo of course, I would combo a machete too so I guess it's a wash. But for me the chopper gets the slight advantage over a hatchet. The sportsman's ax gets the slight advantage over the chopper for me.

Elen · Jan 24, 2008

Depends on what I would be doing. If I would have to do everything with the one tool, then it would certainly be a hatchet. I find it easier to skin critters with a good hatchet than a "big chopper" - if we're talking actually big choppers, like something in the 9" + range. If it's just a 6" blade, then it's still a big knife but not big for a chopper.

There are some tasks, though, in which the big chopper knife is superior even over here in the north, where machete length knives really aren't the norm. And that is limbing and other chopping work in the thickets, where an axe will just constantly jam in whatever other branches that want to get in the way, whereas the big chopper can go through all of them by virtue of having a much longer cutting edge.

Big choppers are a lot more fun than hatchets, though. In reality, where I don't have to go with just one, I'll bring whatever I feel like at the time, depending on what I'm going to be doing.

runningboar · Jan 24, 2008

You don't really need any blade, although it does make it easier, to clean rabbits and birds, your bare hands will work quite well. Squirrels are a different story, I think their hide is glued on with super glue.

Chopper or Axe, I have thought about this quite a lot since I found this site, before, I had no idea what very large knives were used for besides fighting. After pondering it, I have came to my own personal opinion that it doesn't matter a bit, basically which ever you are more comfortable with. I don't buy into the chopper is more versatile line, from my experience both the axe/hatchet and the chopper are very clumsy for fine tasks. In very skilled hands some people can make it look easy but in trying myself, those people make it look easier than it really is. Both tools are somewhat heavy and awkward to carry, both make devastating weapons, and quality is expensive with either.

I have decided to continue to use my hatchet, for me it is familiar and the shorter edge is easier to sharpen in the field. The only long knife I own is my 14" tramotina, I like it too but I think I have a bit more control with my hatchet. That's it for my ramble, if you can, buy both and see what works best for you. Chris

Liam Ryan · Jan 24, 2008

Big bowies and axes have both been around for a long time, axes have worked their way into sheeple territory and are quite common. Anywhere you are going to want a fire and axe will be better, though in certain ecosystems I would rather a machete certainly.
It is all preference, of course, But a good axe will provide a lot more firewood then a chopper, IMHO.

About the gransfors bruks, I have heard the edge is too fine for chopping trees down, and is best for limbing. Is this true? If that's the case then I don't think it's quite the tool
everyone says it is. (I have a sfa)

RB, for cheap quality in axes, wetterlings are the ticket, though need some work on the edge apparently.
For choppers, not so sure on that.
Machetes are cheap as heck, you can get a good one for the price of a mora.

Salamander42 · Jan 24, 2008

CSG said:
Neither. I like my Gerber saw and F1. I recently bought two Wetterlings' hatchets; the smallest and next largest. I touched them up to razor sharp and think the smallest one could be used for a variety of tasks including skinning game. I just didn't feel very comfortable using them for chopping. Then again, I rarely have that as a task when hiking and camping.

Big chopper blades are not as efficient as hatchets IMO and take up a lot of real estate on your person. I think they are less versatile than a hatchet and smaller knife.

Frankly, after experimenting with a Gerber's pruning saw, I realized that it's a better tool for me than either a hatchet or chopper. I'm not sure what I couldn't do with it and an F1 that I could do with the other two tools. Saves weight and better ergonomics for me.

+1 on the saw :thumbup: The saw on my SAK or multitool sees a good bit of use when I'm out too. A lot of the time when I go to gather firewood the downed limbs are in such a tangle that there isn't really room to swing either a hatchet or a chopper.

ilbruche · Jan 24, 2008

sodak said:
Do a search. This one has been argued to death.

Horse · Jan 24, 2008

I suppose we would be lucky to have either one in a real emergency. It is really more about the user than the tool- what are YOU confident in? Of course, to be confident, one needs to develop the skills to use the tools, and this means time... so get out there and DO it.

My own choice? I like an axe. I also like a machette and a golok. I do not use knives wwith 7"-10" blades much anymore- I want LARGER (minimum a 12" Ontario machete) or SMALLER (not much more than 5"). Your milage may vary!

akennedy73 · Jan 24, 2008

3wolves said:
I was wondering which one you would rather carry if you could pick one. A hatchet, or a big chopper like the dogfather or kershaw outcast.

if it's one and only one tool, then a chopper. but not any chopper - full-tang flat grind choppers aren't that great for me. the full-tang transmits impact energy into the hand and the flat grind tends to bind and get stuck. i prefer a valiantco golok - the convex grind buries itself into wood without binding and the handle is extremely comfortable for extended use. it's a joy to use.

Ottoshot · Jan 24, 2008

I hate hatchets but love small axes like the LHA and SFA. I am inexperienced with a hatchet, i find it gets out of control. The longer handle of the LHA works perfect for me, and its length is no serious weight. If i want to use it like a hatchet, I choke up on the handle.

Noshtero · Jan 24, 2008

ilbruche said:
Some threads dating back to 2000. This should just be a sticky.

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=513776&highlight=axe+chopper

woohoo top of the list!

I'll reitterate here. Hatchet for me. The only thing I couldn't do with a hatchet that I could with a long knife is clear a trail. Me being a friend of nature, however, I prefer to push stuff out of my way rather than bushwhack it all to hell. So my walking stick provides me a way through dense growth, and my hatchet handles my chopping needs

Currently, it's the Fiskars. Soon it will be the Penobscot from Snow and Neally, in about.. hmm.... 10.5 or so months it will be a reeves double bit.

Lorien · Jan 24, 2008

If I'm going out for a multi day hiking trip, I'll most likely bring a stove, in which case a hatchet is heavy and redundant. If I need to split wood, I'll have my Fallkniven A1 with me.

If it's a day hike or overnighter, it's likely I'll be fishing, in which case I've got a portable grill and a hatchet, (Gilpin's- garage sale score) to make a fire.

If I'm clearing trails, a chopper cannot be beat. Khukuris, bowies, and I'm really warming up to the Busse family of knife brands, (ack!).

In any event, I will most likely also be carrying a large locking folder, a slipjoint, a small fixed blade and a multi tool.

I like to have an assortment of tools available to choose from for each individual trip, that way I can customize my kit to my expected needs.

The initial investment in getting enough tools to accompany each pack I use was a little bit, but now that I have all this stuff I don't have much need for any more. But I keep acquiring new tools! When will it end?!

pitdog · Jan 24, 2008

Lorien said:
If I'm going out for a multi day hiking trip, I'll most likely bring a stove, in which case a hatchet is heavy and redundant. If I need to split wood, I'll have my Fallkniven A1 with me.

If it's a day hike or overnighter, it's likely I'll be fishing, in which case I've got a portable grill and a hatchet, (Gilpin's- garage sale score) to make a fire.

If I'm clearing trails, a chopper cannot be beat. Khukuris, bowies, and I'm really warming up to the Busse family of knife brands, (ack!).

In any event, I will most likely also be carrying a large locking folder, a slipjoint, a small fixed blade and a multi tool.

I like to have an assortment of tools available to choose from for each individual trip, that way I can customize my kit to my expected needs.

The initial investment in getting enough tools to accompany each pack I use was a little bit, but now that I have all this stuff I don't have much need for any more. But I keep acquiring new tools! When will it end?!

You never showed me your Fallkniven bro !
I have still only ever seen them in pictures !!!

hatchet vs. big chopper?

Nose to the Grindstone