Large Chopper vs. Ax

D

Diamond Dog

Joined
Jun 25, 2007
Messages
695
Got to thinking which would be more useful in camp for all around usage? A large well made chopper knife can do quite a good job chopping etc. So is a hatchett or ax better to get than a large chopper? Since I am getting into camping more I wonder which would be a better choice? Mind you I do not do the extended survival camps but just deep woods camping with the family.
 
i think a large chopper is more useful for its general purpose... not doing everything perfectly, but useful for a lot of things. While axes are only dedicated choppers.
 
I agree that a large chopper can handle a wide range of chores,but personaly I'll take and axe paired with a smaller blade,If I want a large blade I just grab a machete.
But of course if you you like big knives,theirs nothin wrong with that!
 
Chopper is more versatile. Although, if I had an ax in the woods, I would not feel lacking. I just prefer choppers.
 
I've tried everything from Kukris to machetes, to large Bowie knives, and I am now convinced that knives are for cutting, and axes are for chopping and splitting. I carry a small, light Western belt axe and a good all around knife (Bark River Northstar, or Cold Steel SRK) in camp and on the trail.

The "all around tool" concept has just never worked well for me. "The right tool for the job" is more than just a cliche. :grumpy:

Ben
 
I carried a large knife or kuhkuri for a while, but recently bought a Fiskars axe. It chops and splits wood much more efficiently, which is what I'use use the large knife for at least 90% of the time. From now on I think I'll carry a small puukko and a hatchet when I go camping or hiking.
 
I'd go with either my Busse Eu-17 Magnum or a SHBM. Either is light enough for brush clearing (though the SHBM has the better legnth for it being an inch longer at a 10'' blade), heavy enough for any chopping, and stout enough .250'' or thicker for splitting/batoning. They can be digging tools, and can also be used for "knife" tasks apart from all the heavy stuff. Mind you delicate work isn't really cut out for them, they can do some other camp chores and such that you'd usually use a smaller knife for and pull it off. It's nice having one tool that's not very heavy to be able to do all these things with. An axe or hatchet is pretty limited in comparison. Not to mention any axe would dull long before a Busse would. You'd tire out or be out of work to do before your blade would dull out :D no touch ups necessary.

Here's the SHBM w/rig:
P7050093.jpg


Here's my Magnum w/rigs and on an outing after being refinished:
IMG_2047.jpg

FH000008.jpg
 
Gee, I'm totally shocked the majority of posters on a knife forum dig big choppy knives over axes.

If you plan on building a log fort to house your expedition for the winter, you would want an axe. If you might have to chop a bit for an hour or less, a big choppy knife is certainly easier to strap onto a belt.
 
:D :D And unless I'm backpacking, I keep a 24 inch Stihl chainsaw, and a full size double bit 8 lb axe in the camper!:D :D

They take care of cutting and chopping the BIG stuff!:p

Ben
 
Ben Dover said:
:D :D And unless I'm backpacking, I keep a 24 inch Stihl chainsaw, and a full size double bit 8 lb axe in the camper!:D :D

They take care of cutting and chopping the BIG stuff!:p

Ben
Click to expand...

We need a "24 inch chainsaw versus lumberjack manservant" thread. On the one hand, packing a chainsaw into the back territory would also require packing gas and oil and a file for sharpening. The lumberjack manservant would not be quite as efficient a cutter (unless he packed in a 24 inch chainsaw). On the downside, you'd have to feed him. And what if he's whiny and scared of spiders?

Tough call.
 
Actually, I can get into quite a bit of "the back country" with my 4x4 Ford F350 and small camper trailer. There are places I can park the trailer and not see another human for a week!:D
 
Ben Dover said:
:D :D And unless I'm backpacking, I keep a 24 inch Stihl chainsaw, and a full size double bit 8 lb axe in the camper!:D :D

They take care of cutting and chopping the BIG stuff!:p

Ben
Click to expand...

What do you take backpacking? A CLAYMORE?:rolleyes:
 
I just went camping last week and used a maul and 16.5" HI khukuri for all of my woodsplitting. The maul was absolutely necessary for splitting big logs, then the khuk was easier to control than a hatchet for making kindling. If I had started out with pre-split wood, the khukuri would have handled everything else. My vote goes to a big chopper.
 
pbubsy said:
What do you take backpacking? A CLAYMORE?:rolleyes:
Click to expand...

A small Western belt hatchet and a Bark River Northstar. In the summer, I have no need for firewood larger than that which I can break wirh my boot. and there is no need to split firewood in the summer when it's dry.

In the winter, I strap a 30 inch bow saw to the pack as well, so that I can have squared ends to split with the hatchet.
 
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