Actually what I'd be interested in is trying or seeing more things looking like that, general idea, not necessarly that particular design.
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Hatchet vs. Big ol' knife
- Thread starter akennedy73
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I know what you mean but something that big would be a total PITA to carry in the bush ... you'd still be better off with a standard machete + you can still double weild a machete if needs be since the handle is always long enough.
Sometimes compromises are good, sometimes not so good...
I don't see the advantage with this over neither axe, nor machete.
/ Karl
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That picture IS from the woods. Why would I chop a log that size if it was on the ground? I could walk over it.
I'd just chop off any limbs in the way. Actually that tree was a blown down pine across the path up my hollow
Here's another downed tree across the road in my woods I cut.
Here's another tree that went down over my path up in the woods.
Here it is after cutting it up some. You can see even after chopping it's supported on both ends.
Here's another I cut with a 15" BGRS. If this was laying flat on the road I could just step over it.
So what I'm saying is usually in the woods, my woods most of the stuff I'd cut is supported on both ends.
When I'm in the wilderness I would usually just try to find a a way around something this big. There I usually just chop firewood say 6" and smaller and a small axe seems to do this. All my big knifes or khuks I'd bring to do this would weigh more than the hatchets I use.
Also you said:
The hatchet didn't out chop the knives. It chopped better per pound of weight. What long blade would you suggest?
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I gotta say though ... in a wilderness and survival situation I would just step OVER those fallen trees and save the precious edge of my blades to be quite honest! 
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Have y'all ever fooled with one of those pocket chainsaws? They really take 2 people but I was surprised the diameter stuff they would cut.
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Yeah, this is the critical point for me. My Valiant Golok will outchop my Bark River Mini-Axe - but it weighs a bit over a pound. My Bark River Mini-Axe is just 10 oz - and I just don't know of a 10oz knife that'll chop as well.
Add to that, I'm inclined to carry a second blade - either a folder or small fixed blade - when backpacking. So then I've got to decide between a pound of golok or a 10oz hatchet for chopping chores. The hatchet wins.
Now for long-term survival in the woods, I certainly rather have my golok over my tiny little hatchet. It's just a much more versatile tool, as Cliff pointed out.
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Here's an interesting thread
http://ramanon.com/forum/showthread.php?t=39504
akennedy73,
I've always wanted to try one of the little Bark River hatchets. I have the GB mini but that one has always intrigued me. I have a little Vaughn on order(same hatchet as the Bark River one but w/o Mike Stewarts primo grind on it) I'm hoping I can reprofile it to where I can make a relatively fair comparison with the GB.
http://ramanon.com/forum/showthread.php?t=39504
akennedy73,
I've always wanted to try one of the little Bark River hatchets. I have the GB mini but that one has always intrigued me. I have a little Vaughn on order(same hatchet as the Bark River one but w/o Mike Stewarts primo grind on it) I'm hoping I can reprofile it to where I can make a relatively fair comparison with the GB.
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Now we're talking ... a Javan Golok is precisely the type of machete I would couple with a biggish fixed blade knife.
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I think the GB mini will probably outperform a BRKT mini - but that's just my guess since I haven't been able to compare the two. And I think the difference is probably negligible. That being said, the BRKT mini is amazing. Never thought such a tiny hatchet could chop so well.
I have both a Vaughan that I've reprofiled and a BRKT mini. I reprofiled the Vaughan by hand with sandpaper and mousepad - and of course it isn't anywhere near the quality of grind that Mike Stewart puts on them.
I don't know if you're aware of this but the Vaughan's have apparently changed - their profile is much thinner now (the one I reprofiled is one of the newer, thinner ones). Mike Stewart has stopped grinding them because the new thinner profile doesn't allow him enough material to put the grind he wants on them. If you want a BRKT mini now's the time to buy one - 'cuz they're not going to be making any more!
Needless to say, I'm looking foward to your comparison of a GB mini and the Vaughan you reprofile! :thumbup:
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I don't know if you're aware of this but the Vaughan's have apparently changed - their profile is much thinner now (the one I reprofiled is one of the newer, thinner ones). Mike Stewart has stopped grinding them because the new thinner profile doesn't allow him enough material to put the grind he wants on them. If you want a BRKT mini now's the time to buy one - 'cuz they're not going to be making any more!
I didn't know that. That would make the BRKT more collectible. I actually bought an extra Northstar with the tapered tang because of the same reason.
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Apologies hollowdweller; I shouldn't have made that assumption.
This is more what I was getting at, and I think you just made my point for me. If I wanted to get a fire going or build an improv shelter, I'd be using all those limbs that are sticking up off the trunk, rather than chopping up a big log. And even if I did want to move the log as in your example, I'd probably be doing some limbing first, and maybe even cutting it again to get it to a manageable size. So the majority of the cutting I had to do, a straight knife would work fine.Why would I chop a log that size if it was on the ground? I could walk over it.
Actually that tree was a blown down pine across the path up my hollow
...When I'm in the wilderness I would usually just try to find a a way around something this big. There I usually just chop firewood say 6" and smaller and a small axe seems to do this.
Of course I'm not trying to pick on khuks here though- I'm a fan of big blades in all their varied forms.
akennedy73 said:
First off, you guys do have a point, that a good hatchet should be able to outchop a knife *of equal weight*- BUT, only on thicker/solid wood. For all those smaller limbs and stuff speed is needed more than momentum. When the wood gets just a little too thick to simply push cut a knife through it, but it's springy and unsupported at the same time, the long knife will come into its own. Heck, I'd probably be a danger to myself trying to hit a branch like that with the itty bitty cutting edge of a 10 ounce hatchet.
The whole weight thing is beyond my expertise, so I am certainly willing to concede on that point to someone with more experience. I don't go on walks long enough where a few ounces on my belt start feeling more like a ton. (only time I notice it is in reeeeally hot weather, and then a few ounces ain't gonna help anyway) I generally find for my purposes if something starts feeling uncomfortable or heavy, it's because I should be carrying it differently. A few ounces total don't bother me- if they did, first I'd focus on getting rid of the 30 extra pounds hanging over my belt, then I'd switch to lighter shoes than my work boots, a lighter gun, etc.
You've got me there, too. I've been using my own blades for so long I don't have much experience with other options out there, and so far I haven't seen any that really interest me. I'm very particular about dynamic balance, and I have yet to see another long blade made for brush, factory or handmade, that meets my standards. Honestly you'd probably have more luck with something from a sword maker- like Angus Trim's short swords. (again, I have no personal experience with them) If you don't mind the weird looks you'd get, that is.
That's a very interesting thread. It is directly opposite of what I've experienced in my trials, although I've only used GB and Wetterling hatchets. I never would have guessed that Fiskars would build something both cheaper and much better than those 2 companies. Now I'm going to have to go to Lowe's and try one out. Thanks for the info!
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Guess if they aren't really that good then you aren't out much money at least
I'd had the opportunity to do cutting practive with several Angus Trim blades. Gus makes a fine blade, and he is a heck of a guy.
Pat
Pat
Apologies hollowdweller; I shouldn't have made that assumption.
You've got me there, too. I've been using my own blades for so long I don't have much experience with other options out there, and so far I haven't seen any that really interest me. I'm very particular about dynamic balance, and I have yet to see another long blade made for brush, factory or handmade, that meets my standards. Honestly you'd probably have more luck with something from a sword maker- like Angus Trim's short swords. (again, I have no personal experience with them) If you don't mind the weird looks you'd get, that is.
Cliff Stamp
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I used a chainsaw blade directly by hand. Not overly efficient unless you need to do odd cutting like under a root or similar. The folding japanese saws and swede saws and many times more productive.
Most custom makers should be able to craft the performance desired, just get them away from the mindset that a perfect balance for a wood cutting knife is "blade heavy".
Generally yes. When you are felling wood you are cutting trees that are much larger than you would handle in a survival situation. True double bit felling axes are actually so focused that they are near useless as general working axes because the bit is both too narrow and far too long. They are made simply to clear out wood after a relief cut has been made with a saw and thus there is no concern on binding. You can't use them for direct notching. They are also usually optomized for a specific wood type and a survival/wood craft axe would likely be more general.
-Cliff
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So let me get this straight ... is anybody here seriously looking at packing an axe or hatchet for a survival/wilderness bug out on foot? If so I'm pretty surprised.
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A 10 ounce (284 grams) BRKT mini-axe? Sure, it fits in my jacket pocket and weighs less than my jacket.
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I would. I have very Little experience with any long blades. I have been using a axe or hatched since I was a scout. My Grandfather used a Kelly Works axe hunting on every trip I went with him on. My first hatchet was a Marbles. Used It for 10 years before I lost it. I now own a GB SFA. This is just my opinion, but I am much more comfortable with a small axe than any large blade. I have never found it a burden on long trips on foot. To each His own.
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Considering weight is not the only issue, the bug out asks the bug-ee to also consider space. Not bad if you can fit something like that in your jacket pocket but where space is a limitation against other possibilities and considerations you'd choose that mini axe over other items also? I guess for some of you gents the answer is a yes - fair enough.