Large fixed blade or axe? (Firewood)

This fire was started with only one tool, a mini hawk head which wasn't really needed. No matches, lighter or firesteel.

[video=youtube;X8AVj-Sql3E]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X8AVj-Sql3E[/video]

All of my no tool smack talk aside if push comes to shove and an axe was really needed but not available that wouldn't be fun.

 
walkingeagle74 said:
Here's the 411:

Currently have a GFB Forest axe (the larger one), a silky big boy XL, and a KABAR USMC.

The Question: in the area of processing firewood for a night outside, is it worth the weight of lugging the Axe around (almost 3lbs) and the Kabar or would I be better served by foregoing the axe and Kabar and buying a large fixed blade (like a Becker bk9 or CS Trailmaster) and batoning wood. Just trying to cut weight from my pack. Happy pack, happy back.
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I never carried an axe into the woods,(unnecessary weight and obstructive shape too)

Large fixed blade with solid thick spine will do far better job for firewood processing,,, it's way more precise way of doing it (with axe it's very hard to split logs into tiny thin pieces suitable for fire) ,,,, I do have way bigger and heavier Bowie knife than Bk9 or Trailmaster,,,that is 12 inch blade and 10mm thick spine 18,5 inch overall and also khukuries do perfect job on processing firewood
 
Seriousbladeno1 said:
I never carried an axe into the woods,(unnecessary weight and obstructive shape too)

Large fixed blade with solid thick spine will do far better job for firewood processing,,, it's way more precise way of doing it (with axe it's very hard to split logs into tiny thin pieces suitable for fire) ,,,, I do have way bigger and heavier Bowie knife than Bk9 or Trailmaster,,,that is 12 inch blade and 10mm thick spine 18,5 inch overall and also khukuries do perfect job on processing firewood
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What knife are you using? That sounds more like a sword than a knife haha


Yes the bird is real.
Maple Syrup is a hell of a drug.
 
walkingeagle74 said:
Looks like a hybrid of a Kabar USMC and a cold steel SRK. Very nice
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Thank you. It's a massive hunk of EN - 31 tool steel, (usually used for ballbearing), it's very heavy Bowie,full flat tang and the weight is about 3 lbs (dwarfing my Kabar USMC),,,, speaking of an axe, yes it have the same weight as smaller axe, but I d still prefer to use rather knife for firewood due to fine pieces can be easily and quickly prepared without major effort.... Even small knives like Kabars or Ontarios would do ok, if they can be battoned
 
neither. Give me a triple tooth pocket chain saw, rigged with a green branch, forming a bow saw. Chopping is noisy, dangerous and wasteful of energy.
 
neither...i prefer a silky saw or a bob dustrude quick buck saw for maximum efficiency...with that said, i will still sometimes bring a large fixed blade/chopper/machete or an axe/tomahawk to chop for fun though :)


alewn said:
neither. Give me a triple tooth pocket chain saw, rigged with a green branch, forming a bow saw. Chopping is noisy, dangerous and wasteful of energy.
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at least we agree on something :)
 
gotta have wooden wedges, to prevent the saw's getting pinched, and know when and how to use them.
 
I've learned a lot from this guy...

1 2 & 3) Chopping is noisy, dangerous and it takes effort, but...

4)you're weak minded if you're an Iraq war veteran(I disagree 100%)

5)leave your Wetterling's forester fine ax, CPK chopper and Silky Super Accel 210 at home,

6)take a pocket chain saw.

I'm in the same boat as you mewolf1, I've been doin it way wrong. :D
 
There is rarely a one tool option but I too have been searching for it. I usually take three cutting implements (three tool system, a Nessmuk trio if you will) to places where I am allowed to make fire. When fire is not an option I go ultralight with gear and try leaving as little impact as possible.

Good choice with that BK9, you cannot go wrong there!
 
Seriousbladeno1 said:
http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=c49hAObyySA


This is knife I d prefer to use for processing firewood - had it custom made bigger and thicker than presented on this video
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Nice design, I especially like the massive pommel, but when he turns the knive edge to the camera, you can see the whole blade is curved and the edge is not even centered to the spine in the least... It is really wobbly and skewing all over the place, so I guess that explains the low cost... (My BK-9 was similar but not quite as loose, and I still hated it for that...: This low level of workmanship, including heat-curved blade, is very common in BK-9s)

I do not trust this kind of workmanship...

Also much over 6-7 mm in thickness, you start paying a high price in weight... I do like hollow grinds for the way they decelerate smoothly into the wood however: Much more comfortable when chopping...

Gaston
 
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