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

Here in Sweden, and all the nordic countrys we are often in the Woods, like 4-5 days a week as recreation since we have alot of wood and very low population. Usually we don’t have to split any wood we just light the whole log (smaller logs) and be happy. But when being in the wood that often, not always planning on lighting a fire a axe is kinda overkill every day to carry, and if we do need to split some wood the knife is with us. I have several 5mm 4 inch blades i only use for batooning and usually a thinner 4mm for food, carving etc. With this my conclusion is that, me personally would never bring a knife not great for batooning if i was to only bring one.

Good to know also is that precut firewood is scattered all around Sweden in the woods, in shelters protecting it from rain. So often times is you only have to split couple pieces and then off you go. A axe is way overkill for this !

Sorry for the long post, my english isnt the best so kinda wanders away 😅
 
Tore_krok said:
Here in Sweden, and all the nordic countrys we are often in the Woods, like 4-5 days a week as recreation since we have alot of wood and very low population. Usually we don’t have to split any wood we just light the whole log (smaller logs) and be happy. But when being in the wood that often, not always planning on lighting a fire a axe is kinda overkill every day to carry, and if we do need to split some wood the knife is with us. I have several 5mm 4 inch blades i only use for batooning and usually a thinner 4mm for food, carving etc. With this my conclusion is that, me personally would never bring a knife not great for batooning if i was to only bring one.

Good to know also is that precut firewood is scattered all around Sweden in the woods, in shelters protecting it from rain. So often times is you only have to split couple pieces and then off you go. A axe is way overkill for this !

Sorry for the long post, my english isnt the best so kinda wanders away 😅
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Tack sa mycket! I wish I was in Sweden so I can be in the woods 5 days a week, baton wood, use my hatchet, and have good fun. You are lucky!
 
Tack själv ! 😁 yes we are lucky! You should read up on ”allemansrätt” in Sweden. Meaning all woods have public access, even if privatly owned.
 
Yeah not many have that, i think Sweden and norway is the only ones but with a slight modification in norway. Could be wrong tho !
 
So many knives, so many thicknesses, so many intended uses... People need to stop worrying about what other people like to do with the blade they choose. When I read things like it needs to be 7-10" it makes me laugh. I've done plenty of batoning with a mora. Different people test knives in different ways. Need to cut paper use scissors. Need to shave arm hair use a razor. Need to chop wood use an axe. Need to put $500 in your pocket carry cash. Need to cut tomatoes use a kitchen knife. Honestly watch the testing you want and skip the rest. 90% of my batoning is done with a knife under 6".
 
afishhunter said:
A knife's primary purpose historically, is to cut and slice.
A thick blade stock does not do either well, in my experience. Also, to be useful for batoning, the blade (from whet I've read about the subject here) should be at least 7 to 10 inches long. NOT a handy length for skinning anything smaller than an elephant, or hippo/rhino ... and that length may be overkill for them ...

For any game in North America (outside of exotic game ranches that offer elephant/hippo/rhino hunts) a 3 to 5 inch blade and a bone saw, is all that is required to field dress, quarter if necessary, and butcher any North American game animal. (I suspect the same is true in Central and South America, as well.)

If you carry a knife designed for batoning, that is what it does best. Sure, it can do other knife tasks - with more effort and time than a 3 to 5 inch thin blade stock general purpose blade, which will also be more nimble in use.
Hence one is more likely to carry the oversize "over built" knife for chopping/splitting, and a thinner, more nimble blade for everything else. That for all practical purposes limited use/single use over-size batoning knife can weigh as much or more than a belt axe or hatchet, which can also be batoned, by the way. The belt axe/hatchet can also double as a hammer.

A cable saw, or chainsaw chain fitted with handles, or a bow saw (some are foldable), or even the saw included on some SAK's make a lot more sense for cutting wood for the fire, or saplings for shelter poles, etc.) (felling saplings, and branches is currently prohibited at state and national parks, by the way. I'm pretty sure most - if not all farmers and other property owners with wood lots also frown on the practice.)

Honestly, you should watch a few of the 'VINNIE'S DAY OFF' videos on You Tube.
He builds shelters (including cutting willow saplings for the poles), has a nice campfire for cooking and warming the shelter, make a survival bow and arrows, etc. using nothing but a folding knife, as small as 2 7/8 inches closed, proving beyond a shadow of a doubt the old adage: "Finesse beats brute strength. Finesse is also easier on you tools/equipment, and you", and that a fixed blade is not necessary for survival, IF you have the knowledge and skill set.
So, yes. The gentlemen you mention are mistaken.

Dave Canterbury is another who says knowledge and skill beat brute strength.
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Since you use Dave Canterbury...he has numerous videos of talking about batoning with knives and how that should be a requirement when selecting a belt knife.


Also did you really just say Mors Kochanski is mistaken however you are correct? Lol ok then.

Also your entire response is so full of logical fallacies in your arguments. The biggest one is assuming that batoning is simply splitting wood for fire. It includes many things like notches, and building various camp tools.
 
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Dr Rez said:
Also did you really just say Mors Kochanski is mistaken however you are correct? Lol ok then.
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LOL......Mors Kochansky was a big proponent of the Mora Classic, and carried a Mora #1 or a KJE 511 for years. Hardly what you'd call a large blade. He also apparently really liked the Mora Eldris.....
 
Arathol said:
LOL......Mors Kochansky was a big proponent of the Mora Classic, and carried a Mora #1 or a KJE 511 for years. Hardly what you'd call a large blade. He also apparently really liked the Mora Eldris.....
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Ok...? That is irrelevant. Also at no point did I say anything about a large blade, simply one capable of batoning wood.


And this one specifically:
 
Dr Rez said:
Since you use Dave Canterbury...he has numerous videos of talking about batoning with knives and how that should be a requirement when selecting a belt knife.


Also did you really just say Mors Kochanski is mistaken however you are correct? Lol ok then.

Also your entire response is so full of logical fallacies in your arguments. The biggest one is assuming that batoning is simply splitting wood for fire. It includes many things like notches, and building various camp tools.
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The member you’re quoting has a long history of posting nonsense. Sometimes he outright lies. Don’t take him serious. Another example of why it’s wise to avoid people that no it all.
 
Grateful said:
The member you’re quoting has a long history of posting nonsense. Sometimes he outright lies. Don’t take him serious. Another example of why it’s wise to avoid people that no it all.
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Lol thanks for the warning. Just found it odd to use DC for the example as it was probably the worst choice haha
 
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Tore_krok said:
You should read up on ”allemansrätt” in Sweden. Meaning all woods have public access, even if privatly owned.
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Your English is many times better than my Swedish, no problem there.

But dogstar is right, American landowners are hard over on defending their property rights, including excluding public access. When you see the vandalism and damage a minority of the public can do, it’s understandable.

Perhaps your public is better behaved than ours.

Parker
 
Thanks !

Well yes i kinda understand this issue since we have it here as well, but more in suburbian parks that the government owns. I wouldnt be so happy either if people trashed my property, you can actually find beer cans and stuff in the most remote areas in Sweden also, bc fishers from big citys take helicopter out there since its almost the only way for a city boy. Too bad but it is what it is and luckly that kinda people is few over here.
 
Dr Rez said:
Since you use Dave Canterbury...he has numerous videos of talking about batoning with knives and how that should be a requirement when selecting a belt knife.


Also did you really just say Mors Kochanski is mistaken however you are correct?
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Of the VERY few Canterbury vids I've seen, he did not mention batoning.
As for Mr. Kochanski, I am not familiar with him.
Baton a notch? Go for it! I'll whittle mine.

Like I said, I have been using knives for 63 years, after getting my first at age 5. I am 68 this year. In all the years I have been camping, fishing, hunting, canoeing, and boating, I have Never batoned or chopped with a knife. When I needed to chop, I used an axe or hatchet. To split wood, I used a froe or a wedge. Notches and trap/snare triggers, and emergency tent stakes I whittled them.
 
Don’t forget to sharpen your SAK at a 47 degree bevel, the experts mostly agree that’s the bestes batoning edge ever. And use a green tree (limb), otherwise you’ll hurt the spine. Best of luck, make sure you don’t bend the fork on the SAK, I really hate a bent fork when snacking on sardines and wildlanding.
 
afishhunter said:
Of the VERY few Canterbury vids I've seen, he did not mention batoning.
As for Mr. Kochanski, I am not familiar with him.
Baton a notch? Go for it! I'll whittle mine.

Like I said, I have been using knives for 63 years, after getting my first at age 5. I am 68 this year. In all the years I have been camping, fishing, hunting, canoeing, and boating, I have Never batoned or chopped with a knife. When I needed to chop, I used an axe or hatchet. To split wood, I used a froe or a wedge. Notches and trap/snare triggers, and emergency tent stakes I whittled them.
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Ok...? So because you have not done it, it can't be a valid tool for others?

You realize people do things differently right? Indians cook chicken different than the Chinese. Americans make cars differently than Europeans.



Not sure what the point of what you are saying is. If it's simply you don't see a need for it then sure I agree, you don't lol That's fine.
 
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