Khukuri vs Hatchet question

[kazushi]

Yesterday I was doing some tests in my backyard chopping wood. I used a Gelbu Special, Estwing Sportsman's hatchet, and a Condor golok. The Estwing hatchet chopped wood quite a bit better than the Gelbu Special and the Gelbu was better than the golok. Do you guys have similar performance out of your khukuris for chopping? Is a small camp hatchet better in general for chopping wood than khukuris or is it just the model that I have is not best suited for it? If I used for example a CAK or M43 would the chopping performance be closer to that of the hatchet or even better? I like the idea of a khukuri because it seems like a more versatile tool than a hatchet. So I would appreciate any comments or advice on what your experience has been with your khukuris over a camp hatchet.

 

[shortwinger]

Is a small camp hatchet better in general for chopping wood than khukuris or is it just the model that I have is not best suited for it? If I used for example a CAK or M43 would the chopping performance be closer to that of the hatchet or even better?

Generally speaking, a hatchet is a purpose driven tool designed specifically for chopping wood so to do a comparison you will need to choose a kukri model that would be deemed a heavy chopper. As you guessed, the Gelbu is not a heavy chopper. Try a CAK, AK, ASTK, M43, Ganga Ram or Bonecutter in the 16.5" - 18" length range. These models can hang in there with a good hatchet and add that they double as a knife. But understand that over the long term, a good hatchet or forest ax will be more comfortable on your hand and last longer than most kukri.

The reason for using a kukri over a hatchet is much like the reason a person would use a bow to hunt a deer instead of a rifle. The kukri and the bow will never win a head to head competition but then again, that is not the reason for getting one. One great thing about the kukri is that you can pick and choose models according to what you intend to do. There are not only heavy chopper but also light choppers, light fast weapons, longer lighter brush clearing types and, jack of all traits/all purpose camping types such as the M43 or BAS.

Goood luck!

 

[Steely_Gunz]

Shortwinger nailed it I have khuks that will outperform a hatchet, but the reason I pack a khuk is that it handles multiple roles well. It can chop, slice, hammer, and simply feels better in my hand than a hatchet.

 

[jdk1]

The above answers are right on. My hatchet experience is limited, but I have a friend who is into khuks and hatchets. He loves his GFB wildlife, but sees it as more dangerous to the user. He says you have to be very careful since in his opinion it's easier to end up with a SHORT hatchet or axe in your leg, than a khuk. Personally, I'm not comfortable with hatchets for the most part. It seems easy to miss with the small head and hit wood to wood. With a khuk, you may miss the sweet spot, but it's still steel against wood. I could see myself breaking a hatchet handle with poor technique and the idea of making a replacement in a survival situation seems questionable at best IMHO. If I break a khuk, I've done things very wrong The Gelbu I've used was awesome at light stuff and grass, but there are better HI khuks for chopping. Personally, the M43, ASTK, and WWII chop better.

On another note, I got to play with a Condor Golok and it was horrible. The handle was HUGE with no attempt at ergonomics. Among axes, machetes, khuks, and large knives, the Golok was the absolute worst chopper on everything from logs to green mesquite. It's design precludes it from even being considered for use on light, whispy stuff. It was outchopped by an ESEE 5 using a lanyard and two finger on the handle hold. And yes I said ESEE 5.

 

[BePrepared]

I prefer carrying one good chopper of substantial size to a midsized knife and a hatchet. It streamlines my packing when i go into the woods.

also, kukris are Kool

 

[HoosierQ]

A hatchet is just an axe. An axe will outperform any knife, Khukuri or otherwise every time in the arena of chopping wood. It won't sharpen a stick, make a fuzz stick, clean a fish, gut a deer, or do a little field surgery and get a fish hook out of your skin like a knife will. Just like an axe is terrible at small brush...that's where the machete comes in.

Where the Khukuri comes in is that it is designed to do plenty of what a knife will do, plenty of what a small axe will do, and plenty of what a machete will do. Add to that the fact that a Khukuri in the right hands is going to be one of the most effective edged weapons available.

I would not expect any Khukuri to out-perform a good axe at serious wood chopping.

 

[kazushi]

Wow great comment Shortwinger. Your explanation really helped me see things clearer. I haven't made my mind up yet as to what my go to blades will be for camping but I think I will give the khukuri another try and this time get a CAK or other heavier duty model. I've been experimenting w combos in the field where i just build a simple shelter, baton wood, or try to make the tools hand drill or bow to make fire with. I was using combos of mora clipper, bowie knife, hatchet or gelbu special and mora clipper

 

[Big Mike]

Kukri are tools that require more technique then hatchets.


I suggest that most folks can use a hatchet fairly well, and that developing some feel for the tool will let you improve your efficiency over time.


Kukri are trickier to master and require a different technique for efficient use. The movement of a kukri when chopping is not as basic as chopping with a hatchet. That said, as with a hatchet, familiarity with the tool being used will improve your effective use of the tool.


As such, I believe the OP has had an experience that many folks would have doing the same test.


That does not make one tool better then the other, it shows the tester did better with one tool over the other.




Big Mike

 

[Steve Tall]

For a khukuri and a hatchet that are equal in chopping ability, the hatchet will generally be lighter to carry, but the khukuri will be better at other jobs (like slicing, as a draw knife...)

 

[sweetcostarica]

...Kukri are trickier to master and require a different technique for efficient use. The movement of a kukri when chopping is not as basic as chopping with a hatchet. That said, as with a hatchet, familiarity with the tool being used will improve your effective use of the tool.

When I was a Boy Scout in Ohio we used Hatchets. I hated them because they seemed more dangerous than any other tool I had. The larger, longer axes were OK though. Granted my troop did not use the high quality axes/hatchets you have today. Some of my friends though loved the hatchet as a tool. I think this is because of what Big Mike said above (also see excellent links below).
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dFpZJ2ICR5M
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xq1ZB1Ca6nM
For me as most here have noted the all around uses of the Kukri make it better suited for my hiking and camping activities. Most of the time dead fall is all around and so chopping/spiting is light. If I lived in the deep woods I would most definitely have a big axe and use a hatchet for the heavy woodcraft.

My general observations:
Ease of use: Hatchet
Machete-like tasks: Kukri
Better hammer: Hatchet
Better splitter: Hatchet
Better chopper: Hatchet
Better self defense: Kukri
Better multipurpose use: Kukri
Chick magnet: Kukri
Safety: Tie
Price: Tie

At the end of the day the choice is yours.

 

[leebrewer]

Kazushi, what were you chopping and how were you chopping? Do you have pics? Like type of wood, what size, splitting, or chopping. I cant split a 10" seasoned Oak log with any Khukuri. But I baton all my wood. Using my Khukuris as wedges sorta. Also use wood wedges after the Khukuri is buried. (Making and using wood wedges while batoning with a knife saves alot of xtra beating on the knives) Easier for me to do it on my knees than swing an axe or maul. I'm a Tomahawk / Khukuri guy anyway. Don't own any big axes. I burn wood all year. For a Khukuri to fully perform like an axe, it needs to be at least the same length and have at least the same weight in the sweet spot as the axe head. And always as sharp as you can get it.

 

[crimsonfalcon07]

Worth mentioning that some of the hawk/hatchet lovers can do a surprising amount of knife-related tasks with one. Both are very capable tools. The one you should use is the one that most calls to you. Ask this same question in the axe/hawk/hatchet subforum, and you'll likely get a very different set of answers from the one you get in here.

 

[sweetcostarica]

http://www.angelfire.com/ia3/camping/axe.htm
Above is a good basic link on using a Camping axe.

The one you should use is the one that most calls to you. Ask this same question in the axe/hawk/hatchet subforum, and you'll likely get a very different set of answers from the one you get in here.

The most famous American that used an axe was Abraham Lincoln. He used an axe/hatchet all his life and was an expert. I recommend going to see how he uses this tool in the the movie below or reading the novel with the same tittle.


NAME: Abraham Lincoln
OCCUPATION: U.S. President
BIRTH DATE: February 12, 1809
DEATH DATE: April 15, 1865
PLACE OF BIRTH: Hodgenville, Kentucky
NICKNAME: Honest Abe
NICKNAME: The Great Emancipator

 

[Maniacal Pete]

Worth mentioning that some of the hawk/hatchet lovers can do a surprising amount of knife-related tasks with one. Both are very capable tools. The one you should use is the one that most calls to you. Ask this same question in the axe/hawk/hatchet subforum, and you'll likely get a very different set of answers from the one you get in here.

+1, I've got a small hatchet that can peel and core an apple as well as a knife.
I love Khuks (and well hatchets, too) because they are cool.

 

[medcommander]

Standard Kukri vs hatchet. Kukri will win hands down in my book. It's more versatile for the weight, can chop either better or the same because its edge geometry and weight forward design, and can baton through whatever you need split.

Axe vs Standard kukri. Axe will win hands down. With an axe you do have more weight than with the kukri but with that comes much better performance. You can chop, split, make feather sticks, process game, etc.. with it more effeciently than with a kukri. A good axe is kept as sharp as a razor and should be able to pop hair at will, and paired with a knife you pretty much don't have any task you can't accomplish.

Both the Kukri and the Axe are easy to use but dificult to master. Anybbody can pick up an axe or kukri and use it badly, but it can take a lifetime of practice to really master their full potential. I personally do not own a kukri for the simple reason that they are more expensive and do not fit into my tool system well. I personally prefer the old woodsman style of carry. A small blade for whittling and carving, a sharp medium sized blade for cleaning game and such, and a small axe to process wood or use as a hammer. My personal preference is a SAK troubleshooter for my small stuff, Medium sized blade for layering or for when I don't wanna bring the axe, and my axe for when it's needed to process firewood.

That said this is my personal preference and I commend you leebrewer in your skill and dedication to your kuks.

-MC

 

[Maniacal Pete]

I personally prefer the old woodsman style of carry. A small blade for whittling and carving, a sharp medium sized blade for cleaning game and such, and a small axe to process wood or use as a hammer. My personal preference is a SAK troubleshooter for my small stuff, Medium sized blade for layering or for when I don't wanna bring the axe, and my axe for when it's needed to process firewood.

For practicality, I find a light but sturdy folding saw to be an efficient tool to pack along for bushcraft, too.
For me it is a question of what I am trying to do and how much weight I am willing to lug...

 

[shortwinger]

I love Khuks (and well hatchets, too) because they are cool.

Agreed, I like them both too!

Small Forest Axe and HI Bonecutter

 

[kazushi]

I live in Northeastern USA in upstate New York so in the forest there is a combo of soft/hard wood. I've just been trying things out to see what works best for me. The Gelbu Special that I have is not nearly as good at chopping for me as my Estwing hatchet. The Gelbu is not a dedicated chopper type khukuri though so I may try getting something like CAK, M43, Bonecutter. I might also try getting a small saw like the Sawvivor. I usually just baton small logs and chop up small logs a few inches in diameter. One poster mentioned using a wood wedge to help in splitting wood and I have never tried that and it seems like a good idea. There probably is some margin for the khukuri to improve chopping performance if my technique and skill with a khukuri increases.

 

[wildmanh]

I live in Northeastern USA in upstate New York so in the forest there is a combo of soft/hard wood. I've just been trying things out to see what works best for me. The Gelbu Special that I have is not nearly as good at chopping for me as my Estwing hatchet. The Gelbu is not a dedicated chopper type khukuri though so I may try getting something like CAK, M43, Bonecutter. I might also try getting a small saw like the Sawvivor. I usually just baton small logs and chop up small logs a few inches in diameter. One poster mentioned using a wood wedge to help in splitting wood and I have never tried that and it seems like a good idea. There probably is some margin for the khukuri to improve chopping performance if my technique and skill with a khukuri increases.

The Gelbu Special is a nice fast blade but as you say it's not a dedicated chopper. To me it's a Brush or Martial Arts blade. I had one about 11 years ago and loved using it to cut grass and green limbs. An Ang Khola, Ganga Ram, M43 or ASTK would be a much better comparison to a Hatchet.

Got my first Khukri in the summer of 2001 and have not used a Hatchet for anything but splitting kindling since. A Khukri, Machete and Saw have been my tools for years. I'm only slightly faster chopping pine fence posts with a 2.5# Boys axe (26" handle) then I am with my 18" WWII. With me, I can go from chopping trees with my WWII's to brush work with out even thinking about it. Food prep too. My 16.5" WWII and 20" Sirupati have cut up there share of food in my old apartment and on campouts in the last 9 years. I or a room mate needed to cut up some Frozen Hamberger, no problem, the WWII can handle it. Or on a outdoor outing with my Church group if they forgot the chefs knife for the mellons, no worries, Heber has his 20" Sirupati Lisa. Firewood or food cutting, it was my Khukris that got the task when anyone forgot a tool.

If you can carry a hatchet or Axe and a Light fast Khukri or Machete, I think you are better off. A folding saw tossed in the mix helps too. Right tool for the right job IMO and what you're used to also.

 

[tikkidaddy]

I bought my 18 inch ang kola in 2001, I haven't seen anything it can't bring down within reason, I don't have the physical ability 2 use a full size axe, I chose the 18 in. ak instead.
If you take your time and use your head and Think a 18 in ak can do almost anything.
I use a CS SRK for other smaller tasks and I keep them both razor sharp. A CS Riflemans hawk can handle the rest.