Hatchet vs knife for splitting wood

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jscalia

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Dec 11, 2006
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Hatchet vs knife for splitting wood
I am sure this topic has been discussed before but the search function never seems to work for me....so please point me to the right thread if this is reduntant.

I would like to carry something for wilderness camping to split small logs for firewood. I currently carry a SAK and a Pocket Chainsaw. I also have a Seal Revolver which I rarely carry. What is best to carry for this purpose? a bowie, hatchet, or is my Seal Revolver the tool for the job?
 
I split over 50 logs last weekend with the sog seal 2000, it did as well as the 2 ghetto hachets that my friends brough.

It was car camping tho, in the wilderness, I had great sucess with a gerber hachet.
 
jscalia said:
I am sure this topic has been discussed before but the search function never seems to work for me....so please point me to the right thread if this is reduntant.
Click to expand...

Here are a few threads from a quick search of the General Forum... (note I did a search on knife & axe and picked a few that looked good - obviously did not read them fully!)

Large Chopper vs. Ax
http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=486097

Fixed blade camping knife that you actually use
http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=484112

Which one for occasional camping?
http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=471375

Question about big blades
http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=451847

If you try to do to broad of a search you get the famous white screen. Try using the advanced search and limited the forums you are searching.
 
jscalia said:
I would like to carry something for wilderness camping to split small logs for firewood. I currently carry a SAK and a Pocket Chainsaw. I also have a Seal Revolver which I rarely carry. What is best to carry for this purpose? a bowie, hatchet, or is my Seal Revolver the tool for the job?
Click to expand...

For camping I use my S. A. Wetterlings Large Hunters Axe. It is a manageable size even for stuffing in the back-pack.
 
What do you like? Where are you going? What do you see yourself doing? What sort of wood do you see yourself mainly dealing with? Big chucks? Little pieces? A knife will work. A hatchet will work.

I'd say it's personal preference. Try a knife and a hatchet closer to home, if possible, and see which one you prefer. I very often carry both, but occasionally leave the hatchet behind.

You mention splitting small logs. I've seen folks successfully split smaller pieces with a locking SAK and with a 4" Mora knife.

Have fun, and be careful!

My most recent splitting adventure:
RS6Split014.jpg
 
I think it's easier to split small peices of wood with a knife.

I think it's easier to split large peices with a hatchet.
 
KnifeFury said:
For camping I use my S. A. Wetterlings Large Hunters Axe. It is a manageable size even for stuffing in the back-pack.
Click to expand...
I have one of these as well, good axe. Also available in a 15" and 13" shaft.
http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=483305
A link to a little comparison I did.

hollowdweller said:
I think it's easier to split small peices of wood with a knife.

I think it's easier to split large pieces with a hatchet.
Click to expand...

I agree. :thumbup: Big knotty stuff can be a pain to baton so an axe is great. Smaller stuff is too much of a pain with the axe, the knife works much better and saves your axe from going into the dirt.
 
As with most gear, it's largely a matter of personal preference. The type of wood that you're dealing with also may be a factor. Try both and see what works best for you, and while you're at it you may want to pick up a khukri and try one of those as well. Himalayan Imports khukris are awesome and I've also heard good things about Tora khukris as well. Be wary of Ka-Bar and Cold Steel and similar khukris. . . It's not that they're bad blades necessarily, but they're not the same as a good hand made traditional Khukri.
 
Hey Robbie, yeah as to the Revolver an awsome knife. Love my revolver H, worked great, wish I didnt send it ahead of me.
 
A hatchet, or better, a full weight axe head on a hatchet length handle.

A heavy chopper like a good kukri comes in a distant second.

And if you have to baton... There is a pic around here that clearly shows why I think batonning is a bad idea- the RAT with the bite out of it.
 
Fonly, pal we missed your great reviews and post ! :D Glad to see your back, thanks for the positive remarks about the Hunter Revolver.

I think I would probably carry a "bigger knife" to chop with if I needed one....then I could still do some camp chires with said knife.

It's hard to slice veggies with an ax........:o Fonly ? ;)

Robbie Roberson. ;)
 
A 3/4 single bit is only a few ounces heavier than a hatchet but far more useful IMHO due to the longer handle. The Hudson's Bay model is my particular favorite. It can do everything a hatchet can and far more. Just make sure there is something between you and whatever you're splitting - and never split a piece of wood on bare ground.
 
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