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

Hatchets are better than big fixed blades

  • True

    Votes: 34 60.7%

  • False

    Votes: 22 39.3%
  • Total voters
    56
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My vote is for the $20 tramontina at Home Depot. Once sharpened it’s hard to beat. Spent a few weeks cutting trails at my uncle’s property through thick bush. Tried some cheap kukris and other bs choppers. Always came back to the machete. It cut better but mainly because of weight and length when using it for hours on end. Can easily cut thru 3 trees with a few whacks. All about the wrist and angle. But yes it needed to be sharpened every morning. I was looking at a condor though primarily because of the handle.
 
Blues said:
I carry a hatchet in my left front pocket, a khukuri in my right front pocket, a smatchet in my left back pocket, and a .45 caliber 9mm in the right.

On my ankles I have a golok and a barong.
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But do you drive a Ford or a Chevy?
 
Everyone has pointed out your knife of choice was not really a good chopper.

The same could be said about your hatchet. I have a lot of big knives made to chop, and I’d take my Estwing hatchet over any of them.
 
91bravo said:
Nice! Details?
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Those are Work Tuff Gear/"Aurora Borealis" Kodiaks.

The original design is from a Member here (*"Alex B"/Aurora Borealis Knives) who used to offer them for sale in the Exchange, if I remember correctly. I'm assuming that, at some point, he licensed the design to Victor Lin of Work Tuff Gear.

The top and bottom are SK85 steel, with the middle being K329. (*Bohler's version of A8Mod)
 
Alone said:
Those are Work Tuff Gear/"Aurora Borealis" Kodiaks.

The original design is from a Member here (*"Alex B"/Aurora Borealis Knives) who used to offer them for sale in the Exchange, if I remember correctly. I'm assuming that, at some point, he licensed the design to Victor Lin of Work Tuff Gear.

The top and bottom are SK85 steel, with the middle being K329. (*Bohler's version of A8Mod)
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They look like my type of blade that I would carry in the backwoods.
 
A hatchet, or axe, will always out perform a knife - if you want to carry one. But you know what out performs both and weighs less?
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It was determined decades ago that the saw is the best tool for cutting wood.
 
Sibyrnes said:
A hatchet, or axe, will always out perform a knife - if you want to carry one. But you know what out performs both and weighs less?
View attachment 2318440

It was determined decades ago that the saw is the best tool for cutting wood.
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I think I’d rather swing an axe then push n pull that saw. Now if it plugs in I couldn’t agree more!
 
Sibyrnes said:
A hatchet, or axe, will always out perform a knife - if you want to carry one. But you know what out performs both and weighs less?
View attachment 2318440

It was determined decades ago that the saw is the best tool for cutting wood.
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How do they do opening bags of feed or bedding? Cutting baling twine? How about prepping fodder for livestock? How many people use a saw to trim weeds under their bushes?

Cut a big multiflora rose bush out of the way with that bad boy and report back...

I seriously don't understand why all of these discussions revolve around wilderness use. It's obvious the op wasn't in the wilds with a reciprocating saw trying to live off the land.

Let's face it, if we were all out living off grid, none of us would be posting on bf with any regularity. Given the multitude of tasks I'm faced with in the wilds of my yard, give me a machete/chopper. An axe is great for chopping/splitting wood. If you like doing that task with nothing but an axe great, but when the chips are down how many of us are really living like kephart?
 
mitchnola said:
I think I’d rather swing an axe then push n pull that saw. Now if it plugs in I couldn’t agree more!
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I respect your opinion, but for the kind of “trail blazing” I do cutting vines and branches, a small saw is much less physically exerting than swinging an axe or knife.

In response to that “opening a bag” comment, of course knives have a use and I wouldn’t leave home without one, but I thought we were talking about tasks where an axe was an option.
 
Wild Willie said:
How do they do opening bags of feed or bedding? Cutting baling twine? How about prepping fodder for livestock? How many people use a saw to trim weeds under their bushes?

Cut a big multiflora rose bush out of the way with that bad boy and report back...

I seriously don't understand why all of these discussions revolve around wilderness use. It's obvious the op wasn't in the wilds with a reciprocating saw trying to live off the land.

Let's face it, if we were all out living off grid, none of us would be posting on bf with any regularity. Given the multitude of tasks I'm faced with in the wilds of my yard, give me a machete/chopper. An axe is great for chopping/splitting wood. If you like doing that task with nothing but an axe great, but when the chips are down how many of us are really living like kephart?
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Hell, at times I’m the type person to carry a large knife, a saw AND a hatchet. Most of the time, the hatchet just sits around as I can accomplish more with my larger blade. Large blade usually clears our camp area, brush, vines and blackberry type plants. Not saying my way is better than anyone else’s here, but it’s what works best for me. Use what works best for you!
 
Sibyrnes said:
In response to that “opening a bag” comment, of course knives have a use and I wouldn’t leave home without one, but I thought we were talking about tasks where an axe was an option
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The discussion is revolving around the general merits of the big knife vs axe debate that's been plaguing edged tool enthusiasts for time out of mind.

My argument is that for general, non specific use in a semi civilized area, the large knife can do all of the things I listed. Sure, bags can be cut open with an axe, or a saw if you're truly a masochist, but a large knife will do them better.
 
91bravo said:
Hell, at times I’m the type person to carry a large knife, a saw AND a hatchet. Most of the time, the hatchet just sits around as I can accomplish more with my larger blade. Large blade usually clears our camp area, brush, vines and blackberry type plants. Not saying my way is better than anyone else’s here, but it’s what works best for me. Use what works best for you!
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I'm one of those too, there's a Vaughn mini hatchet in my bag for the off chance I need it to drive a felling wedge or peg, but it hardly gets used.
 
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