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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Sibyrnes said:
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.
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I commented earlier that a $20 machete is the way to go imo especially vines and branches or clearing a path through brush. No offense but that would be quite amusing watching you cut vines with that. Maybe it’s ok for getting a few vines off your fence if that’s all you had.

I’ve had no problem cutting through 5-6” trees with the machete. Actually did it quicker than my uncle with a sawzall. All about technique in the wrist and angle of the cut. Personally I think a saw like that would be better for dry wood. Chopping through dry wood is tough with a machete. I think that’s when an axe or heavy chopper is needed.
 
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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Same, or a knife, a large knife, a machete/chopper, an axe (not a usually a hatchet, but occasionally a hatchet), and a folding saw. Why not? Most of that can be carried in my haversack and the rest just in hand.

I was clearing 2 cottonwood blowovers right next to my house the past few weeks and the felling axe brought the stuff to the ground, combined with the saws, but when it came to making the branches smaller, machete and parangs were where it was at. Way easier than trying it hit the branch with such a small cutting surface as a hatchet or axe has. I've done it with hawks before, just to see how accurate I could be, but clearing brush with an axe or hatchet kinda sucks, and saws are both slower and more likely to get pinched. Had a new OKC 'chete that got well broken in. Anything 4" or less was no problem, given green cottonwood cuts really eaay.

But, all 3 were great tools to have for the varied cutting needs I had for the few days it took to take the hungup stuff down safely and walk it out of the thickets next to the house and back to my wood processing area out back.

For those interested, main cutting tools for the job:
Rinaldi trento felling axe
Silky big boy
OKC machete
 
mitchnola said:
I commented earlier that a $20 machete is the way to go imo especially vines and branches or clearing a path through brush. No offense but that would be quite amusing watching you cut vines with that. Maybe it’s ok for getting a few vines off your fence if that’s all you had.

I’ve had no problem cutting through 5-6” trees with the machete. Actually did it quicker than my uncle with a sawzall. All about technique in the wrist and angle of the cut. Personally I think a saw like that would be better for dry wood. Chopping through dry wood is tough with a machete. I think that’s when an axe or heavy chopper is needed.
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Agree on the green wood comment. Machetes are great good when it's green, and not when it's not. Thicker machetes, like gokoks and parangs, still do well but I don't like to lump those together as most people thing long, thin bkades for machetes, like the latin machetes, whereas goloks and parangs, to me, fall more into the chopper bucket. Of course, it's all a spectrum
 
bikerector said:
Agree on the green wood comment. Machetes are great good when it's green, and not when it's not. Thicker machetes, like gokoks and parangs, still do well but I don't like to lump those together as most people thing long, thin bkades for machetes, like the latin machetes, whereas goloks and parangs, to me, fall more into the chopper bucket. Of course, it's all a spectrum
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No doubt they work well, just found that when using for extended periods of time the weight becomes an issue and that’s where the machete shines, you can swing em all day.
 
Agree to disagree, they're just different. Clearing tree stands, trails and my yard I've used all of the above. Sawzall, hand saws, machetes, hatchet, axes, chainsaws, choppers... And I've found a large knife like a becker bk9 is plenty effective and makes for a great one tool option. Your SRK isn't going to perform like the knives people have shared pictures.
 
Back in the pioneers day a large chopping knife in one hand and a hatchet in the other would be the cat's meow. Of course with a rifle and pistol as well.
 
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