help me pick a big chopper

If you look at the cross section of the OKC RD series, they are all full flat grind. What I'm saying is, that they are not as thick as you might think. Sure they are 1/4" thick at the spine, but only at the spine. Same goes for the TOPS Power Eagle.
I guess I'm saying that spine thickness does not make the edge any stronger. In fact, I have an Ontario Kukri that's 1/4" thick and full flat grind, and it's light.
In comparison, my Ka-Bar Kukri and Cutlass machetes are much heavier. The Ka-bar's are thinner stock, but not ground down. They have a 1" hollow grind.
I think the Ka-Bar's can out chop the 1/4" thick Ontario's anyday. That includes the Survival Machete SP8, that thing is tough, but too thick to bite into wood.
The Ka-Bar's are about $40 each.
 
The new "Next Gen" series from Ontario have been getting my attention lately. For a big chopper, consider this one:
SP-50
 
The junglas is a really good value for the money. You could probably pick up a SOD on the exchange for about 175 and still have enough money to buy a basic sheath. The trailmaster is always good for 140
 
Treg said:
So...........are you a sissy...:)
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Hell naw! I own three. :D When you need to put the hurt on some wood, there is no substitute. Allow me to revise my previous statement: Any "man" who would use anything less than a Battle Mistress as a dedicated chopper is not only a sissy, but probably a wimp as well. But you don't have to carry it ALL the time. Not even Chuck Norris could carry a Battle Mistress everywhere. Payette F. Rucker probably does though.
 
Chopper? Chopper, you say??

How about a 9 7/16" Wharncliffe like edge of CPM-M4 - Rc 60-62 & .309" at the spine (The tang looks to taper to ~.185" inside the rubber-like handle.):

IMG_4571.jpg


The Benchmade 171 was made for 'BladeSports' competition - a true chopper. The 1.7 lb chopper is a comfortable grab with that rubber handle. It's Kydex sheath offers no simple belt attachment, save the MOLLE spaced large rivet holes. MSRP is $350 - but I've seen them for $239-$289 locally - a deal for that much M4! I've used the Bark River 'T.U.S.K.' a bunch - kind of a micro-chopper - or a larger chip carver. That BM 171 would be about right for chip-carving a big redwood!

Stainz
 
foxx said:
If you look at the cross section of the OKC RD series, they are all full flat grind. What I'm saying is, that they are not as thick as you might think. Sure they are 1/4" thick at the spine, but only at the spine. Same goes for the TOPS Power Eagle.
I guess I'm saying that spine thickness does not make the edge any stronger. In fact, I have an Ontario Kukri that's 1/4" thick and full flat grind, and it's light.
In comparison, my Ka-Bar Kukri and Cutlass machetes are much heavier. The Ka-bar's are thinner stock, but not ground down. They have a 1" hollow grind.
I think the Ka-Bar's can out chop the 1/4" thick Ontario's anyday. That includes the Survival Machete SP8, that thing is tough, but too thick to bite into wood.
The Ka-Bar's are about $40 each.
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As far as spine thickness i am looking more at increased batonability and lateral stiffness rather than edge toughness....from the research ive done all things being equal a 1/4" knife will baton better than a 3/16" knife.


Blue Sky said:
The new "Next Gen" series from Ontario have been getting my attention lately. For a big chopper, consider this one:
SP-50
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wow those do look nice, i like the sp52 even more...and i see the sp marine raider is only $45! what are the differences between the next gen and the gen II line? OKC's website says nothing...

Stainz said:
Chopper? Chopper, you say??

How about a 9 7/16" Wharncliffe like edge of CPM-M4 - Rc 60-62 & .309" at the spine (The tang looks to taper to ~.185" inside the rubber-like handle.):

IMG_4571.jpg


The Benchmade 171 was made for 'BladeSports' competition - a true chopper. The 1.7 lb chopper is a comfortable grab with that rubber handle. It's Kydex sheath offers no simple belt attachment, save the MOLLE spaced large rivet holes. MSRP is $350 - but I've seen them for $239-$289 locally - a deal for that much M4! I've used the Bark River 'T.U.S.K.' a bunch - kind of a micro-chopper - or a larger chip carver. That BM 171 would be about right for chip-carving a big redwood!

Stainz
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nice! but too much $

Treg said:
+1 on the Next Gen, I got a SP-49 and it's a pretty amazing chopper and cheap too..
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Looks like great prices for a big ole' hunk of 5160.....
 
The Junglas is a lot of blade for the money. Yesterday, a very good friend of mine came over to the house and we took several blades out to abuse on some downed trees on my property.

The feel and weight of the blade made for an enjoyable day of swingin' steel.
 
Well i really like the ontario sp10 for $50 bucks but the low price kinda scares me....its not the ideal grind for batoning and niether is the swedge, and its heavy as hell...but it would leave me with enough for my ESEE RC-4. If im not happy with the performance of the knife after reprofiling the edge at least i will have a sweet big bowie which is something ive always wanted anyway....

Any good reason i should not do this?
 
ZombieChoppa said:
...what are the differences between the next gen and the gen II line? OKC's website says nothing...
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I think you already got this figured but the the Gen II's are 5160 and the next gen's are 1095. Looks like all the Gen II's are available in flat or saber grind too, so if you want a little more meat at the spine, go saber (SP-49 or SP-51?). The Marine Raider is not a Gen II option though, if that is the style you want. :(
 
Those Ontario Gen II's are cheap cause the handle is inexpensive, and the sheath is just enough to be a sheath. I'm not putting them down, but that's how they can be that affordable.
If you find one you like, you can always upgrade the sheath. The handles can be purchased from Ontario, if you were to damage one, or melt one, or your dog chews it up, etc..
 
another thing about the Gen II SP's - the coating (on mine atleast) comes off FAST and in big pieces. personally, i don't care, i'm probably gonna have mine sand blasted off and force a patina. but if YOU like a coating that stays on the blade, you might wanna avoid the SP's. i can honestly say i have NEVER seen a coating come off so fast. the steel underneath seems to have another coating, though. like it was parkerized or primered, before it was black coated. so, no worries on corrosion, but it'll look like crap with very little work :(
 
You could get a Becker BK9 with after market micarta grip (readily available) and kydex sheath (also readily available) for under $200...I'd take that over most.
 
zignal_zero said:
another thing about the Gen II SP's - the coating (on mine atleast) comes off FAST and in big pieces.
Click to expand...

Strange, I saw a recent review of the SP-50 that got put through it's paces and while the coating got scuffed up it didn't do anything like that.
 
i use an Ontario SP8 for most outdoors "heavy" stuff. carbon 1095 blade is super easy to put a shaving sharp edge on and the blade is so thick i think i could pry a car door open with it :) of course not very corrosion-resistant though and relatively "soft" steel.

It's handled oak, pecan, pine and bamboo rather well. and it made friends with a piece of granite below a bamboo rhizome i was cutting out. put a nice gap in the blade, but being 1095 it only to about two hours to regrind, re-profile and re-polish the blade by hand with a DMT 320, and shapton 4000 and 8000 stones, then stropped on newspaper for good luck.

and of course it's "cheap" enough that I wouldn't cry if something catastrophic happened to it. i'm not crazy about the sheath, but i bought some kydex to make something more to my taste.

Stainz: dude that BM is really nice... i may need to look into that.
 
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