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Another doubting Thomas, eh?C'mon Thomas, everyone knows that.Respectfully, you know this how?
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https://www.bladeforums.com/threads/bladeforums-2024-traditional-knife.2003187/
Price is $300 $250 ea (shipped within CONUS). If you live outside the US, I will contact you after your order for extra shipping charges.
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Another doubting Thomas, eh?C'mon Thomas, everyone knows that.Respectfully, you know this how?
C'mon Thomas, everyone knows that.
"Everybody knows"
Inquiring Thomas, actually. I hoped there was actually a basis for the statement - however slight. There are, after all, people who study early tool use: "Wood splitting (riving, cleaving) is an ancient technique used in carpentry to make lumber for making wooden objects, some basket weaving, and to make firewood. Unlike wood sawing, the wood is split along the grain using tools such as a hammer and wedges, splitting maul, cleaving axe, side knife, or froe."
Early metal axes had no pole, and an iron eye with a steel blade forge-welded in does not lend itself to much batoning - you end up distorting the eye so the head comes loose.
So was wood mostly split with these axes or, what seems more likely, with froes - a form of knife - and wedges?
Japanese froe
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I guess it depends on how you define feeling safe. I feel safe getting a fire going quicker with a hatchet than a knife in extreme cold. There are so many ways to process wood that tool choice is almost redundant. I simply prefer hatchets for speed.
Battoning is much safer than using an axe. Think about it. It might not be as efficient at splitting wood, but it is safer. And a knife has more uses than an axe. Also weighs less.
Try skinning a deer with an axe
I don't think there's anything wrong with batoning anymore...so long as one does it with a froe, a tool specifically designed for this purpose. Why don't I see anyone talking about froes? Do what you like with your blades, but I personally will be using an axe or similar tool to split wood.
This debate has always puzzled me. Each side swears that their OPINION is fact. Personally I carry a small axe, a saw, and a knife most of the time and generally do most of my splitting with the axe. However its fun to baton the smaller stuff and if thats what I want to do then I will. If the knife I am carrying can't handle anything I ask of it then I don't want that knife anyway (just be realistic as to what I expect). If its someone else knife maybe its wrong to baton with it but no body's opinion about MY gear is better than mine.
I don't care if you want to bring a pair of scissors to baton all your wood, as long as you aren't coming up with far fetched tales to defend it as your best choice.