Question about the Baryonyx

[dogstar]

42blades, since you have been promoting this tool, I have to ask. How do you baton with this blade, given the tip design?

 

[FortyTwoBlades]

Like this!



Alternately, just use it more like an axe.



The reason for the difficulty of the split--decently wavy grain.

In addition to acting as a grasping surface for draw-knifing and an extension of the arm for pushing brush out of the way, the tip region also provides a platform for batoning.

 

[dogstar]

Is the spine near the hook is sharpened?

 

[FortyTwoBlades]

It's sharpened from the point of the hook down to about halfway down the spine.

 

[dogstar]

That would chew up your baton, no?

 

[FortyTwoBlades]

If you struck that portion, yes. Which is why you strike the spine of the point as seen in the video--not the hook.

 

[dogstar]

Okay, I see. I didn't realize that was a video. Given the slope of the tip, it seems a little awkward.

Good luck, sir.

 

[FortyTwoBlades]

No worse than the tip on a lot of other pieces, and you can hold the handle at a slight downward angle which improves overall ergonomics of the operation. The Striking area is decently large, and you can strike it reliably and consistently without glancing blows.

In the odd event that you have difficulty with batoning, just use the axe approach shown in the second video.

Thanks for asking!

 

[CWL]

That would chew up your baton, no?

Why would that really matter? besides, why would someone even want to baton when they can just chop directly with that big blade?

 

[FortyTwoBlades]

It's handy for doing precise material removal...like carving a handle on a large wooden mallet. For splitting purposes I usually like to just bash away.

 

[dogstar]

Why would that really matter? besides, why would someone even want to baton when they can just chop directly with that big blade?

Maybe it wouldn't bother you, but if I had found a baton with good heft and length, I'd want to keep using it. Also, the blade, though heavy, is only 1/8" thick, which can bind in a knotty or twisted piece of wood. Then you might want to baton it through. Heck, even my hatchet gets stuck sometimes. I know you can free it with a wedge if you had the prescience to make one.

Just like chopping is not the end-all technique, neither is batoning. But, it's a good option to have and I expect all my blades to be able to do it.

 

[FortyTwoBlades]

Yup! It's good to have options, and that's what this whole design was about.

 

[XanRa]

I need to get one here soon