Recommendation? I need to get to da chopper!

M

Meneldor

Joined
Dec 28, 2018
Messages
68
Folks, I have a problem. I have lotsa knives. I got SAKs. I got puukkos. I got leather-handled hunters and I got bone-handled hunters. I got filleters. I got bushcrafty ones. I got more scandi grinds than is reasonable. I got folders from little bitty ones to great big ones. I got axes and machetes and saws. What I don’t got is a chopper, and clearly this needs to be remedied.

What I think of as a chopper is a fixed blade, anywhere from 7” to 10” long, heavy enough to be used as a baby machete, but small enough for whittling and general camp use as well. Yes, I know that it won’t be as good as a hatchet or machete for chopping, or as good as a smaller blade for finer work. The point is to fill a gap in the collection and to have (yet) another tool to have fun swinging around in the woods. We have mostly evergreen trees around where I live, and I have no preference re: carbon or stainless. Budget could be up to $200.00 US. I’ve looked at the BK9, as well as a kukri, or a leuku.

So what all are some of your favourite choppers?
 
Here are a couple of my favorites:

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Those two are also my most expensive fixed blades though. My favorite "budget" chopper is the Terävä Skrama.
 
Himalayan Imports has got you covered on this. All kinds of choppers for you to choose from at killer prices. Check them out. I have a KLVUK that I,ve used for years and it's still my go to chopper.--KV
 
Imho, choppers don't start until you get a blade over 10" long, preferably 12", and maybe 14" max. That's where it crosses into machete territory, though machetes are more about geometry and use than length to me. I have a Cold Steel Kukri Machete. I only consider it a machete because it doesn't have a primary grind. It's just a flat piece of sharpened metal. Still works fine, but a chopping knife needs a primary grind and secondary edge bevel.
 
Unfortunately, it appears that the old Browning Crowell-Barker comp knife has been discontinued. You used to be able to find one of those fo under $120.
 
You need a $65 Terava Skrama. Go to Verusteleka.com and put thyself on the notification list for satisfaction. Once shipped, it takes about 7 days to arrive from Finland. You're welcome;)
 
jdm61 said:
Unfortunately, it appears that the old Browning Crowell-Barker comp knife has been discontinued. You used to be able to find one of those fo under $120.
Click to expand...

Love that knife. What an awesome blade it was for the money.
 
me2 said:
Imho, choppers don't start until you get a blade over 10" long, preferably 12", and maybe 14" max. That's where it crosses into machete territory, though machetes are more about geometry and use than length to me. I have a Cold Steel Kukri Machete. I only consider it a machete because it doesn't have a primary grind. It's just a flat piece of sharpened metal. Still works fine, but a chopping knife needs a primary grind and secondary edge bevel.
Click to expand...

There are plenty of decent choppers with 7.5-8 inch blades and I certainly do not believe they start at 10 inch. But they obviously get better with more length, lol.
 
Cold Steel Traimaster; it will do all you ask of it. :thumbsup: It's been my go to (even though I have many choppers, quite a few more expensive) for around 25 years. :cool:
 
Some great ideas here. Choppa looks interesting. The Skrama is one weird design, with that long handle. Looks efficient, though!
 
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