Is hacking and chopping with a folding knife considered abuse? I mean for the lock?

[Razor]

I chop with my ZT's. They all just smile.

 

[A_Blade_Afficionado]

I chop with my ZT's. They all just smile.

Yeah but Zt knives are designed to get beat and not break. Your average folder would get destroyed pretty quick.

 

[orthogonal1]

I chop with my ZT's. They all just smile.

What ZT folder would these be?

None of the ones I've handled are big enough.

 

[stabman]

My frame-locked Buck/Strider chops small branches(1 inch or so) just fine.
Takes some chopping to be sure, but the knife doesn't mind.:thumbup:

 

[Razor]

I use the 300. I don't chop trees, just limbs 1/2" to 1", brairs, anything in the way on the trail.

 

[yerscattergun]

Get a $15 Cold Steel Kukri Machete, it will out chop most
hatchets and its indestructible..it will cut a ZT in half.

 

[Alarion]

Yes.
Bigger knives may hold better, longer, or seem completely unaffected, but it's abuse.
If you want to chop something, buy a hatchet.

 

[Skimo]

I have a 9+ year old benchmade 722 that I've battoned with, still locks up like a vault!

a 5$ gas station special or a "gentlemans" folder, no way, that's just asking for trouble.

the short answer is yes, it's abuse.

The long answer is if you're freezing and need a fire, who cares?