I was excited to get this over Yule. I like the way it feels. Using it was a different story. I tested its chopping vs Fiskars x7 and Hibben IV machete (United Cutlery) and Estwing e24a. Tested its splitting vs the same.
Chopping
Tested on green and seasoned red cedar and siberian elm.
I knew it wouldn't be the best chopper and as expected the Hibben and Fiskars outperformed. It was comparable to the Estwing but lots more shock to the hand. What truly surprised me was the shock felt in my hand. I chopped down an elm 8in around and my hand was toast. Same size tree with the Fiskars was easy, with the Hibben I tired and had hot spots but could continue. The Estwing felt good but didn't chop well. The bottom of the handle that sticks out a bit on the OKC also created Hotspot on the pinky. Moved to 2in and under saplings where I thought the 6420 would dominate. Better than Hibben/Estwing but the damned Fiskars excelled again. At half an inch or smaller the OKC 6420 excelled over the others. Limbing the small parts was all about the same, larger parts easier done with Hibben or Fiskars. I could slice through 2in round limbs in one swing but so could the other 3 and they did it easier.
Splitting
Bites deep and batons well. Everything outperformed it here but it was completely functional. Watch the shock to the hand though.
Overall the sheath sucks but functions, the handle creates hotspots and if you deliver a glancing blow the blade wants to rotate in your hand more than I feel it should. Hitting hard surfaces has major shock in the hand. Better and cheaper tools for the smaller brush are available and better and cheaper tools are available for chopping/splitting the larger stuff. I wanted to love it but it's inferior to many cheaper items available for wood processing.
As a large knife it's pretty bad ass. It's become my go-to poultry processing tool. My birds go from squawking to a package of parts better trimmed than your local butcher can in just over 3 minutes (after they've bled). I would venture to say as a weapon it would be lethal with little effort.
Good knife, glad to have it, glad I didn't pay for it and I would not be quick to recommend it.
Edit: 8in not 18in elms
Chopping
Tested on green and seasoned red cedar and siberian elm.
I knew it wouldn't be the best chopper and as expected the Hibben and Fiskars outperformed. It was comparable to the Estwing but lots more shock to the hand. What truly surprised me was the shock felt in my hand. I chopped down an elm 8in around and my hand was toast. Same size tree with the Fiskars was easy, with the Hibben I tired and had hot spots but could continue. The Estwing felt good but didn't chop well. The bottom of the handle that sticks out a bit on the OKC also created Hotspot on the pinky. Moved to 2in and under saplings where I thought the 6420 would dominate. Better than Hibben/Estwing but the damned Fiskars excelled again. At half an inch or smaller the OKC 6420 excelled over the others. Limbing the small parts was all about the same, larger parts easier done with Hibben or Fiskars. I could slice through 2in round limbs in one swing but so could the other 3 and they did it easier.
Splitting
Bites deep and batons well. Everything outperformed it here but it was completely functional. Watch the shock to the hand though.
Overall the sheath sucks but functions, the handle creates hotspots and if you deliver a glancing blow the blade wants to rotate in your hand more than I feel it should. Hitting hard surfaces has major shock in the hand. Better and cheaper tools for the smaller brush are available and better and cheaper tools are available for chopping/splitting the larger stuff. I wanted to love it but it's inferior to many cheaper items available for wood processing.
As a large knife it's pretty bad ass. It's become my go-to poultry processing tool. My birds go from squawking to a package of parts better trimmed than your local butcher can in just over 3 minutes (after they've bled). I would venture to say as a weapon it would be lethal with little effort.
Good knife, glad to have it, glad I didn't pay for it and I would not be quick to recommend it.
Edit: 8in not 18in elms
Last edited:
