I'm new here...why does every fixed blade knife have to be a star at batoning?

[ferider]

It's okay, I've batonned with a $12 friction folder. We all have our vices.

Interesting. First time I see somebody else besides my dad and me use the "chess lever grip". Great to know how it's called

(poor guy - A for effort)

 

[dogstar]

Interesting. First time I see somebody else besides my dad and me use the "chess lever grip". Great to know how it's called

(poor guy - A for effort)

Chest-lever grip

I love to play , too

 

[ferider]

Was hard to hear ..... thank you ! (makes more sense, too )

 

[Drop bear]

The biggest problem knife reviewers have is finding any legitimate use for a knife. Not just battoning but carrying a knife at all.

The average camping trip is opening a pack of noodles and cutting some string possibly.

Everything else is set up so you don't need a knife.

And basically every knife would work. That is why all the tests are things like. Mabye you forget your tent pegs. Or your tent or your fire starters and have to use $300 worth of knife to build a house or whatever.

So suddenly they have to baton to justify the knife's existence

 

[dogstar]

The biggest problem knife reviewers have is finding any legitimate use for a knife. Not just battoning but carrying a knife at all.

The average camping trip is opening a pack of noodles and cutting some string possibly.

Everything else is set up so you don't need a knife.

And basically every knife would work. That is why all the tests are things like. Mabye you forget your tent pegs. Or your tent or your fire starters and have to use $300 worth of knife to build a house or whatever.

So suddenly they have to baton to justify the knife's existence

How do you justify the existence of anything? Technically none of it is "necessary."

 

[ferider]

We all have more than one knife. If batoning is important to you, take two, otherwise you're missing out.

One for batoning firewood, one for cutting meat, for instance. I mean steaks, of course.

 

[nbp]

A few weeks ago I went for a hike in the marsh behind my house and brought my biggest fixed blade, a proper chopper, along in hopes of finding something to chop. While I walked I thought good and hard about large fixed blades and choppers and what their point was. I thought about starting a thread much like this one.

I have been into knives since I was a little kid 30 years ago and have had many. I primarily buy folders as they are the most useful day to day and some are very strong and can handle anything I reasonably would need to do, even on a camping or backpacking trip. Their versatility and varied designs makes using them fun. I think fixed blades are cool too as does any knife nut and so have a few. Since they are easier to make, they are what most makers start with and often the only thing they do, so it is easy to find ones you like and go crazy buying them. I agree there are occasions when a small fixed blade is preferable to a folder: food prep, processing game, wood carving, etc. But in reality I find I rarely use my fixed blades, with the strength and durability of today's folders. I seldom find a task in my daily life or even in the woods that I can't do with a Sebenza or PM2.

My fixed blades much larger than a full sized folder seem to go almost entirely unused. I cannot find any task yet that a large chopper would be used for that couldn't be done better with a saw/hatchet/axe. And their unwieldy size and thick steel make them bad for anything you'd use your folder for. I want to love large fixed blades, but I cannot seem to find any practical use. I'm sure there are a few people out there that have some use but in general I agree that it is mostly hype. To any outdoorsman asking for my recommendation I would say that a quality folder or small fixed blade and a camp axe or folding saw would be a far better pairing and vastly more useful than a huge chopper in virtually every imaginable situation. I am sure some will disagree, and that is okay, but this is my assessment after owning and using a lot of knives over the years. Buy a huge batoning chopper if you like it, but basing your buying decisions on your intention to process wood this way is kinda silly. I have tried to chop wood with a large fixie and it is slow, tiring, inefficient, and mostly sucks. Buy an axe for chopping.

 

[Drop bear]

How do you justify the existence of anything? Technically none of it is "necessary."

Because you want to is the best justification. But for knife reviewers it always seems a bit shoe horned.

Feather sticks over fire lighters. Ferro rod rather than matches.

 

[dogstar]

Because you want to is the best justification. But for knife reviewers it always seems a bit shoe horned.

Feather sticks over fire lighters. Ferro rod rather than matches.

One just uses what is expedient at the moment. Would I make friction fire when I have a book of matches? No. That doesn't mean I don't want to learn and practice friction fire.

 

[Henry Beige]

If you are a motorcycle camper, there are only three words you need to know when it comes to fire-making: the desert candle. The only knife you need is one sufficient to cut the top off an empty beer can. (If you are a real motorcyclist, you know how to get an empty beer can). Put a couple of inches of gasoline in the can, light it with your Bic ( the same one you use to light your cigars) and build your fire around it.
You still need a knife to scrape a gasket, cut a length of fuel line, slice some cheese or salami, or bully your way into a can of beans or smoked oysters. You might need to whittle a plug to replace a carb drain screw, or to cut the end off your cigar. You won’t need to do much wood work with it.

 

[catspa]

(If you are a real motorcyclist, you know how to get an empty beer can).

Um, dumpster dive at a local bar? Or ask the next guy you see drinking one if you can have the can (when he’s done drinking).

Parker

 

[Houlahound]

Had to explain to a lady friend why I needed such an expensive, large, overbuilt knife. I said for batoning wood. She asked why do I need to baton wood. After an uncomfortably long pause I said; if you continue this line of questioning we may not be able to remain friends. Have not heard from her since.

 

[Jeff Dickinson]

It seems like batoning is the standard by which all fixed blade knives are judged by. Why is that? I use a axe or hatchet for that. It seems that a lot of knife nuts are wanna be survivalists just like many guns nut seem to be wanna be "operators".

I read the first 5 pages of this thread and didn’t see the first answer that came to my mind when I read the title. If I’m reiterating, my apologies.

But the reason, in my mind, the baton test is the standard for a fixed blade is, if the fixie can’t baton, you may be just as well off with a folder.

That’s not to say you “will be” batoning with the knife. But the knife’s ability to do so may be a level of durability you appreciate.

Personally, I don’t really care for folders. Which is funny, because if the sales threads act as any kind of gauge, the majority of folks here REALLY like folders. And I think many of the fixed blade enthusiasts on this site dabble in both arenas. Not me tho… I just like fixed blades.

And the draw of a knife can be for different purposes… self defense, every day use (ie breaking down boxes, cutting string or cordage, sliding things out that fall between cracks), or outdoor “bush” needs. But durability, edge retention, corrosive resistance… those are the standards by which I measure a knife.

I’m rambling… but I’ll end with this. My appreciation for knives is driven, in large part, by my appreciation for steel. If a knife is too delicate to baton, I probably won’t buy it…

 

[OCEquestrian]

My appreciation for knives is driven, in large part, by my appreciation for steel.

^^^ I totally get this and agree with you...my appreciation for steel is a big part of my fascination with knives...and swords and probably firearms too.

 

[Whiskers the cat]

You can baton all you like with knives that cost thousands of dollars. Old guys may prefer to use a John Deer log splitter.

I appreciate nice tools and try to take good care of them. It’s not my style to torture test my knives. Still have bad memories of that Boker brand with the bent Spey blade because I tried to open a Stuck can lid with it.

To put things into perspective from my limited experience. You want something to play rough with get a Glock knife. Leave the Chris Reeve aviator in the safe

Buy what you like and enjoy it however you prefer.

 

[Houlahound]

If a knife is too delicate to baton, I probably won’t buy iit

So you would never buy a kitchen knife, a skinning knife, a knife to filet fish, bread knife, whittling knife........etc?

 

[not2sharp]

Batoning is fine, but the real lost art for knives in the woods is fascine work. Using sticks to build fence lines, barriers and extensive fortifications. It required skills and engineering. I would like to see an event were teams of enthusiast race each other to fabricate elaborate works.

n2s

 

[Dav1]

Batoning is fine, but the real lost art for knives in the woods is fascine work. Using sticks to build fence lines, barriers and extensive fortifications. It required skills and engineering. I would like to see an event were teams of enthusiast race each other to fabricate elaborate works.

n2s

Agreed, as a carpenter I love to work with wood and green woodworking is so satisfying. Most knives now aren't made re this focus.

 

[not2sharp]

19th-20th century fascine knives. were a mix of machete like knives, bolos and billhooks. It is a kind of construction that goes back into the dark ages. We can easily imagine any of our large "camp knives" used for this purpose. They certainly weren't making knives, like the ones pictured here, just for internet reviews. Fascine construction was the true traditional purpose for these large knives.

n2s

 

[OCEquestrian]

Batoning is fine, but the real lost art for knives in the woods is fascine work. Using sticks to build fence lines, barriers and extensive fortifications. It required skills and engineering. I would like to see an event were teams of enthusiast race each other to fabricate elaborate works.

n2s

Caesar si viveret, ad remum dareris ​