A couple of weeks ago I bought my first FSH and just couldn't bear to use it. It was just too pretty. Then the company store had to announce the FSH in OD. Well, I'm a sucker for OD so of course I had to have one. That arrived yesterday and it looks great. Not the crinkly finish like on my black one but a somewhat smoother finish.
Today I got home early and decided to put one to work. I decided the OD FSH would be the sacrificial lamb. I also wanted to compare it to something else and grabbed my Ranger RD7, 7" with a full flat grind. I had a good sized pile of wood I had cut up earlier in the year and had put on my porch to bring inside. The majority of the wood was 10" - 12" diameter oak logs that I had cut into discs about 4"-8" thick, with a chainsaw of course.
I started off by splitting the thinner discs in halfs and thirds. The FSH being bigger and heavier did not require as much effort. The RD being a 7" blade and lighter required a little more oomph, but did well splitting with one strike as well. As I got into the thicker stuff, I really had to work hard with the RD, and the FSH really shined as a chopper. I expected this, and I know that comparing the two knives was comparing apples and oranges, but I needed to see for myself what the two would do.
One thing I realized was what is a very comfortable handle on the RD started to hurt my pinky finger on hard blows. The handle on the FSH is a dream for chopping. The curved portion of the butt keeps your hand secure and from sliding off the back, and is very comfortable on the pinky. Keeping my hand towards the back portion of the handle, I was able to split some pretty hard oak close to 8" thick with one chop. The thicker the wood, the harder I swung, and it split. I wasn't wearing gloves and had no discomfort in the hand whatsoever. I also found by wrapping the laynard over the back of my hand, then over the thumb, I was able to not only keep a good grip, but also keep my hand from going forward.
After a while of setting one piece of wood up at a time and splitting it, I got bored and just began randomly whacking at everything in the pile where it sat and in no time I was finished. The knife wanted to do more as did I but I was running out of daylight and anxious to tell my tale.
Lanyard over top of hand. :thumbup: If you let go, the knife swings away from you.
The devastation
Note the finish on the FSH is completely unaffected except for minor scuffing.
I also noticed the blade is as sharp as when I began. I know you all knew that but I thought I'd say it anyway. I'm thrilled with this thing and all I want to do is chop, chop, chop, and of course....., buy another
.
Today I got home early and decided to put one to work. I decided the OD FSH would be the sacrificial lamb. I also wanted to compare it to something else and grabbed my Ranger RD7, 7" with a full flat grind. I had a good sized pile of wood I had cut up earlier in the year and had put on my porch to bring inside. The majority of the wood was 10" - 12" diameter oak logs that I had cut into discs about 4"-8" thick, with a chainsaw of course.
I started off by splitting the thinner discs in halfs and thirds. The FSH being bigger and heavier did not require as much effort. The RD being a 7" blade and lighter required a little more oomph, but did well splitting with one strike as well. As I got into the thicker stuff, I really had to work hard with the RD, and the FSH really shined as a chopper. I expected this, and I know that comparing the two knives was comparing apples and oranges, but I needed to see for myself what the two would do.
One thing I realized was what is a very comfortable handle on the RD started to hurt my pinky finger on hard blows. The handle on the FSH is a dream for chopping. The curved portion of the butt keeps your hand secure and from sliding off the back, and is very comfortable on the pinky. Keeping my hand towards the back portion of the handle, I was able to split some pretty hard oak close to 8" thick with one chop. The thicker the wood, the harder I swung, and it split. I wasn't wearing gloves and had no discomfort in the hand whatsoever. I also found by wrapping the laynard over the back of my hand, then over the thumb, I was able to not only keep a good grip, but also keep my hand from going forward.
After a while of setting one piece of wood up at a time and splitting it, I got bored and just began randomly whacking at everything in the pile where it sat and in no time I was finished. The knife wanted to do more as did I but I was running out of daylight and anxious to tell my tale.
Lanyard over top of hand. :thumbup: If you let go, the knife swings away from you.
The devastation
Note the finish on the FSH is completely unaffected except for minor scuffing.
I also noticed the blade is as sharp as when I began. I know you all knew that but I thought I'd say it anyway. I'm thrilled with this thing and all I want to do is chop, chop, chop, and of course....., buy another
.
What does the OD stand for? Haven't seen it used with the FSH before.
Someday maybe...