Hatchets are better than big fixed blades. Change my mind.

[jux t]

Ah, OK.

To me, a large blade is 6". (as on the SRK) I guess it's because I usually carry a folder in the 3 to 3-1/4" blade size. (and/or a SAK in the 2-3" range)

What is a good value chopper? Chopper equivalent of the Morakniv?

The Ontario SP5 is a good example of a good value chopper.

 

[91bravo]

This is an argument that has no end...

Kinda like Ford vs Chevy, or chili with or without beans

 

[shinyedges]

Kinda like Ford vs Chevy, or chili with or without beans

Without beans of course

 

[91bravo]

Without beans of course

WITH beans my man!

 

[Blues]

And...away we go...

 

[Alone]

Without beans of course

WITH beans my man!

Are you guys trying to start a Civil War?

 

[shinyedges]

WITH beans my man!

Jonny. No. Beans. In. Chili.

I love the 1311, I chopped through the hind legs of a frozen deer with it and only had minor edge disalignment.

 

[91bravo]

Jonny. No. Beans. In. Chili.

I love the 1311, I chopped through the hind legs of a frozen deer with it and only had minor edge disalignment.

I use Loppers to take off the legs, much easier!

 

[dogstar]

The Ontario SP5 is a good example of a good value chopper.

Or its big brother the SP10 Marine Raider.
Ontario just got sold, so you might want to pick up their knives before you can't anymore.

 

[Smaug]

View attachment 2317819
Another proper chopper

Thanks for the nice pictures everyone, but as someone who isn't "into" fixed blades, a picture alone doesn't help much. Please also say what the knife pictured is and its approximate cost.

Thanks!

 

[Alone]

The Ontario SP5 is a good example of a good value chopper.

Or its big brother the SP10 Marine Raider.
Ontario just got sold, so you might want to pick up their knives before you can't anymore.

The SP-53 is another budget wood bomb.

Unfortunately, as D dogstar mentioned, the well is really starting to dry-up.

 

[shinyedges]

I use Loppers to take off the legs, much easier!

There was a video years ago of a busse Gladius chopping up a frozen deer, so I got curious how the sr101 would hold up. I did it for science.

 

[91bravo]

Thanks for the nice pictures everyone, but as someone who isn't "into" fixed blades, a picture alone doesn't help much. Please also say what the knife pictured is and its approximate cost.

Thanks

I paid a little under $500 for the CPK, the first knife, and little over a $100 for the Becker and around $150 for the 1311. These were purchased many years ago and don’t reflect what they would cost today.

 

[91bravo]

There was a video years ago of a busse Gladius chopping up a frozen deer, so I got curious how the sr101 would hold up. I did it for science.

I love sr101!

 

[cutchu]

Thanks for the nice pictures everyone, but as someone who isn't "into" fixed blades, a picture alone doesn't help much. Please also say what the knife pictured is and its approximate cost.

Thanks!

I think all your questions would be found with a little browsing in either the Busse / Swamp Rat sub-forum or in the CPK sub-forum.

 

[Smaug]

They both get the job done. Age old argument done many times over. Question might be which one is more all around versatile while adequately getting the job done along with usefulness for other things.
For me, a chopper is 9-10” of good quality well heat treated steel with special attention paid to the comfort and safety of the handle. Those Carothers and Busse posted above are good ones and will definitely chop but are pretty pricey to very pricy on my scale. Doesn’t mean I don’t have one! Some folks defend hatchets and some choppers. Endless battle.
Beware of talking yourself into something else you don’t necessarily need. Personal experience talking there.
Possibly you could borrow one to try and compare it with your hatchet side by side on the same wood before heading down that slippery slope.
Just my thoughts
But whatever you do, do not put a lanyard with beads on it!

I guess which one is more all-around versatile was my supposition. Or if not, I did mention and illustrate my use case here: breaking down small trees. (let's say ≤5" diameter trees)

I used the reciprocating saw for trunks/branches 1" and thicker and the hatchet for everything else.

 

[shinyedges]

I guess which one is more all-around versatile was my supposition. Or if not, I did mention and illustrate my use case here: breaking down small trees. (let's say ≤5" diameter trees)

I used the reciprocating saw for trunks/branches 1" and thicker and the hatchet for everything else.

I'd say a good chopper is more versatile all around. Choke up and make feather sticks, chop through big limbs or logs, baton large logs, path clearing. Much more usable edge length, you can keep the heel of the blade unused for the most part and have it stupid shaving sharp.

 

[91bravo]

I used to be a hatchet man, and I still have a few. They have their place for sure. But for backpack camping where I need to harvest lots of firewood, I bring a folding Silky and a large knife/chopper. You can harvest much more wood with a saw and large knife than you can with a hatchet. More safely as well.

 

[Smaug]

I prefer clearing smaller branches with a leuku but a nice light hatchet does an excellent job with the right "wrist flick" action.

Also I think your SRK could have benefited from a bit of reprofiling, the factory age is thick.

From a brief Googling, leukus are about the same size as my SRK here, right? (5-6" blade)

Agreed on the wrist flick action. I choked up to maybe 6" below the head and it was amazingly effective.

Yes, I need to reprofile the SRK, but am dreading it as it will be a lot of hand grinding with my knife jig. The Sharpmaker with the 40° setting didn't do much, so I think the factory edge is probably more like 45°. At least it's saber ground, so my jig will have something to grab 'hold of. (unlike a flat grind)

 

[shinyedges]

I used to be a hatchet man, and I still have a few. They have their place for sure. But for backpack camping where I need to harvest lots of firewood, I bring a folding Silky and a large knife/chopper. You can harvest much more wood with a saw and large knife than you can with a hatchet. More safely as well.

Silkys are like manual chainsaws. My experience has led me to the same setup