I need a chopper

jlubas

jlubas

Joined
Jan 22, 2008
Messages
301
I just got my new RAT RC4 (favorite knife i own now i highly suggest anyone looking for a good knife to look at RC... kudos to you guys on making amazing knives) back on topic though. I want a large knife/ machete-ish knife (not looking for a full sized machete). The knife will not be doing as many finer tasks as it will be riding with my RC4, it will manly be used for chopping and batoning. I was looking at the large KaBar heavy bowie but was worried about the swedge for batoning. So any suggestions on a knive or even if i should just stick with a hatchet.

Thanks in advance you guys i know ill get alot of great info .

p.s. im also on a bit of a fixed budget so i know a battle mistress is worth it but just a bit out of my range right now.
 
Try a Busse Fusion Battle Mistress. They cost more but will out perform anything out there IMO.
 
ceiw said:
Try a Busse Fusion Battle Mistress. They cost more but will out perform anything out there IMO.
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Except for his budget. I love Busse ... but not on a budget.

Try out Swamprat and Scrapyard -- but you want knives they probably don't have directly available from their stores right now. In your case, you should look for: DogFather (Scrapyard) or something like the recent Chopweiler (Swamprat).

I'd look in the Busse exchange on the For Sale by Individuals sub-forum here ... shouldn't be long before you find an acceptable price on one of these knives. You might also find an older, acceptable Swamprat chopper. If you see one you like and aren't sure, just ask. The Rat-lovers (Swamprat, that is) are a gregarious lot and they'll be happy to help you out.

If these are too much of a pain, check out Bark River. They have solid, less expensive knives. Beckers are also good, but Ethan Becker isn't making anything just now ... could be some months before new Becker choppers come out.

Fehrman makes some awesome choppers, too ... but probably too pricey.

EDIT: I shouldn't forget HI. If you like the kukhri design, check out the HI sub-forum on BF and look at Yangdu's choppers. In addition to a good web store, most days Yangdu posts an offering of special kukhris for sale in the sub-forum. You can get an awesome deal on a real mean, authentic, hand-made kukhri, and for a very small price. Please be aware these are made from available materials in the authentic old style by individuals 'in country.' They are not made with modern techniques. I find that Yangdu has an excellent customer service policy ... so I'm not worried about QC issues.
 
browning competition chopper: ~$120:

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ceiw said:
Try a Busse Fusion Battle Mistress. They cost more but will out perform anything out there IMO.
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C'mon, was that a joke? Do people read threads at all before responding?? :thumbdn:


I've got the KaBar Heavy Bowie and like it a lot. Takes a great edge and I'd be pretty comfortable in that 'one knife' scenario. I like how it chops, and it works well as a draw knife too. I'm sure that if you try to pry a dump truck out of cement it would break, versus a busse...

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For $50 I think they're certainly worth the money. I also looked into getting the camp knife, but ultimately decided against it due to sharpening hassles, the hollow grind, and guard.

For a more devoted tool since you've already got a good fixed blade, you could also look into the Fiskars hatchet, or even the CS Trail hawk. Both have worked extremely well for me. I'd lean towards the Fiskars due to weight, 'out of the box' performance, and ease of procurement.
 
I think Jlubas added that he can not afford a FBM, after Ceiw recommended one. Busses are hard use knives, that does not mean that all Busses are abused.


SpookyPistolero said:
C'mon, was that a joke? Do people read threads at all before responding?? :thumbdn:


I've got the KaBar Heavy Bowie and like it a lot. Takes a great edge and I'd be pretty comfortable in that 'one knife' scenario. I like how it chops, and it works well as a draw knife too. I'm sure that if you try to pry a dump truck out of cement it would break, versus a busse...

100_0265.jpg


For $50 I think they're certainly worth the money. I also looked into getting the camp knife, but ultimately decided against it due to sharpening hassles, the hollow grind, and guard.

For a more devoted tool since you've already got a good fixed blade, you could also look into the Fiskars hatchet, or even the CS Trail hawk. Both have worked extremely well for me. I'd lean towards the Fiskars due to weight, 'out of the box' performance, and ease of procurement.
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I have a Swamprat battle rat that I paid about $200 for. I won't be selling it anytime soon as I can chop away all day in comfort and efficiency. I read lots of good things about Ranger knives on this Forum (RD7 and RD9).
 
He mentioned that he could not afford a Busse when he first posted this thread, it wasn't an edit. I know because I was the first person to open this thread after he posted it. He literally recommended the exact knife that he said he wasn't interested in right now.
 
Thanks guys im getting alot of good ideas and now have a long night of research ahead of me with all these knives and lay off ceiw im sure he meant no harm and gave me a chuckle atleast.
 
I have a Swamprat Chopweiler on the way, I don't think you can go far wrong with one of those. However others to consider are Ranger RD7's and RD9's, Scrapyard Dogfathers, Ontario RAT 7's,ColdSteel Recon Scouts and TOPS Knives also do quite a few that would fit the bill !!!
 
im thinking the Becker Brute what do you guys think about it ive ony heard good things so far
 
Check out Ranger Knives as others have suggested, they're fairly economical and have (IIRC) a life-time guarantee.

I would take a hatchet (e.g. Fiskars) over a chopper though. Just my $0.02. :)
 
jlubas...send me a PM I have something you might be interested in....need to discuss options
 
I much prefer Resiprene C handles for shock absorption, especially on big chopping knives, and for insulation from the cold. These handles come on Scrap Yard knives and the older Swamp Rat knives.

If you don't mind hard-sided handles I've also heard good things about Ranger Knives RD9. If I bought one I'd probably try wrapping the handle with rubber or silicone tape.

Choosing between a big chopping knife, or a hatchet or tomahawk, is largely a matter of what and where you are going to be chopping, and personal preference. You'd probably have to experiment to find out what would best fit your needs.

I prefer a chopping knife most of the time because it's more versatile than a hatchet or tomahawk, usually weighs less and is less bulky to carry, is easier to work with in heavy vegetation (such as cutting dead lower branches of fir and pine trees), and I think is less likely to cut me if I screw up a chopping stroke.
 
Wabajack said:
Check out Ranger Knives as others have suggested, their fairly economical and have (IIRC) a life-time guarantee.

I would take a hatchet (e.g. Fiskars) over a chopper though. Just my $0.02. :)
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+1 - you already have a fine general woods knife. I would opt for a chopper being either an axe or hatchet depending on how much chopping your planning on doing.

I learned a long time ago that even an Axe can be outbeat by good bow saw. The laziest camping trip I went on, the bow saw made life so much easier for wood collection and took far, far less time.
 
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